Aboard the papal plane, Mar 8, 2021 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- Please read below for CNA’s full transcript of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Baghdad, Iraq, to Rome, Italy on March 8, 2021.
Pope Francis: First of all, thank you for your work, your company, your fatigue. Then, today is Women’s Day. Congratulations to the women. Women’s Day. But they were saying why is there no Men’s Day? Even when [I was] in the meeting with the wife of the president. I said it was because us men are always celebrated and we want to celebrate women. And the wife of the president spoke well about women, she told me lovely things today, about that strength that women have to carry forward life, history, the family, many things. Congratulations to everyone. And third, today is the birthday of the COPE journalist. Or the other day. Where are you?
Matteo Bruni, Holy See press office director: It was yesterday.
Pope Francis: Best wishes and we should celebrate it, right? We will see how we can [do it] here. Very well. Now, the word is yours.
Bruni: The first question comes from the Arabic world: Imad Atrach of Sky News Arabia.
Imad Abdul Karim Atrach (Sky News Arabia): Holiness, two years ago in Abu Dhabi there was the meeting with the Imam al-Tayyeb of al-Azhar and the signing of the document on human fraternity. Three days ago you met with al-Sistani. Are you thinking to something similar with the Shiite side of Islam? And then a second thing about Lebanon, which St. John Paul II said is more than a country, it is a message. This message, unfortunately, as a Lebanese, I tell you that this message is now disappearing. Can we think a future visit by you to Lebanon is imminent?
Pope Francis: The Abu Dhabi document of February 4 was prepared with the grand imam in secret during six months, praying, reflecting, correcting the text. It was, I will say, a little assuming but take it as a presumption, a first step of what you ask me about.
Let’s say that this [Ed. meeting with al-Sistani] would be the second [step] and there will be others. It is important, the journey of fraternity. Then, the two documents. The Abu Dhabi one created a concern for fraternity in me, Fratelli tutti came out, which has given a lot. We must… both documents must be studied because they go in the same direction, they are seeking fraternity.
Ayatollah al-Sistani has a phrase which I expect to remember well. Every man… men are either brothers for religion or equals for creation. And fraternity is equality, but beneath equality we cannot go. I believe it is also a cultural path.
We Christians think about the Thirty Years’ War. The night of St. Bartholomew [Ed. St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre], to give an example. Think about this. How the mentality has changed among us, because our faith makes us discover that this is it: the revelation of Jesus is love, charity, and it leads us to this. But how many centuries [will it take] to implement it? This is an important thing, human fraternity. That as men we are all brothers and we must move forward with other religions.
The [Second] Vatican Council took a big step forward in [interreligious dialogue], also the later constitution, the council for Christian unity, and the council for religious dialogue — Cardinal Ayuso accompanies us today — and you are human, you are a child of God and you are my brother, period. This would be the biggest indication. And many times you have to take risks to take this step. You know that there are some critics who [say] “the pope is not courageous, he is an idiot who is taking steps against Catholic doctrine, which is a heretical step.” There are risks. But these decisions are always made in prayer, in dialogue, asking for advice, in reflection. They are not a whim and they are also the line that the [Second Vatican] Council has taught us. This is his first question.
The second: Lebanon is a message. Lebanon is suffering. Lebanon is more than a balance. It has the weakness of the diversity which some are still not reconciled to, but it has the strength of the great people reconciled like the fortress of the cedars. Patriarch Rai asked me to please make a stop in Beirut on this trip, but it seemed somewhat too little to me: A crumb in front of a problem in a country that suffers like Lebanon. I wrote a letter and promised to make a trip to Lebanon. But Lebanon at the moment is in crisis, but in crisis — I do not want to offend — but in a crisis of life. Lebanon is so generous in welcoming refugees. This is a second trip.
Bruni: Thank you, Your Holiness. The second question comes from Johannes Neudecker of the German news agency Dpa.
Johannes Neudecker (Deutsche Presse-Agentur): Thank you, Holy Father. My question is also about the meeting with al-Sistani. In what measure was the meeting with al-Sistani also a message to the religious leaders of Iran?
Pope Francis: I believe it was a universal message. I felt the duty of this pilgrimage of faith and penance to go and find a great man, a wise man, a man of God. And just listening to him you perceived this. And speaking of messages, I will say: It is a message for everyone, it is a message for everyone. And he is a person who has that wisdom and also prudence… he told me that for 10 years, “I do not receive people who come to visit me with also other political or cultural aims, no… only for religious [purposes].” And he was very respectful, very respectful in the meeting. I felt very honored; he never gets up even to greet people. He got up to greet me twice. A humble and wise man. This meeting did my soul good. He is a light. These wisemen are everywhere because God’s wisdom has been spread all over the world.
It also happens the same with the saints, who are not only those who are on the altars, they are the everyday saints, the ones I call “next-door saints.” Men and women who live their faith, whatever it may be, with coherence. Who live human values with coherence, fraternity with coherence. I believe that we should discover these people, highlight them, because there are so many examples. When there are scandals in the Church, many, this does not help, but we show the people seeking the path of fraternity. The saints next door. And we will find the people of our family, for sure. For sure a few grandpas, a few grandmas.
Eva Fernandez (Radio COPE): Holy Father, it is great to resume the press conferences again. It is very good. My apologies, but my colleagues have asked me to ask this question in Spanish.
[In Spanish] During these days your trip to Iraq has had a great impact throughout the world. Do you think that this could be the trip of your pontificate? And also, it has been said that it was the most dangerous. Have you been afraid at some point during this trip? And soon we will return to travel and you, who are about to complete the eighth year of your pontificate, do you still think it will be a short [pontificate]? And the big question always for the Holy Father, will you ever return to Argentina? Will Spain still have hope that one day the pope will visit?
Pope Francis: Thank you, Eva, and I made you celebrate your birthday twice — once in advance and another belated.
I start with the last question, which is a question that I understand. It is because of that book by my friend, the journalist and doctor, Nelson Castro. He wrote a book on [the history of] presidents’ illnesses, and I once told him, already in Rome, “But you have to do one on the diseases of the popes because it will be interesting to know the health issues of the popes — at least of some who are more recent.”
He started [writing] again, and he interviewed me. The book came out. They tell me it is good, but I have not seen it. But he asked me a question: “If you resign” — well, if I will die or if I will resign — “If you resign, will you return to Argentina or will you stay here?”
I said: “I will not go back to Argentina.” This is what I have said, but I will stay here in my diocese. But in that case, this goes together with the question: When will I visit Argentina? And why have I not gone there? I always answer a little ironically: “I spent 76 years in Argentina, that’s enough, isn’t it?”
But there is one thing. I do not know why, but it has not been said. A trip to Argentina was planned for November 2017 and work began. It was Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. This was at the end of November. But then at that time there was an election campaign happening in Chile because on that day in December the successor of Michelle Bachelet was elected. I had to go before the government changed, I could not go [further].
So let us do this: Go to Chile in January. And then in January it was not possible to go to Argentina and Uruguay because January is like our August here, it is July and August in both countries. Thinking about it, the suggestion was made: Why not include Peru, because Peru was bypassed during the trip to Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, and remained apart. And from this was born the January trip between Chile and Peru.
But this is what I want to say so that you do not create fantasies of “patriaphobia.” When there are opportunities, it must be done, right? Because there is Argentina and Uruguay and the south of Brazil, which are a very great cultural composition.
About my travels: I make a decision about my trips by listening. The invitations are many. I listen to the advice of the counselors and also to the people. Sometimes someone comes and says: What do you think? Should I go or not? And it is good for me to listen. And this helps me to make the decision later.
I listen to the counselors and in the end I pray. I pray and I think a lot. I have reflected a lot about some trips, and then the decision comes from within. It is almost spontaneous, but like a ripe fruit. It is a long way, isn’t it? Some are more difficult, some are easier, and the decision about this trip comes early.
The first invitation of the ambassador, first, that pediatrician doctor who was the ambassador of Iraq, very good. She persisted. And then came the ambassador to Italy who is a woman of battle. Then the new ambassador to the Vatican came and fought. Soon the president came. All these things stayed with me.
But there is one thing behind my decision that I would like to mention. One of you gave me a Spanish edition [of the book] “The Last Girl.” I have read it in Italian, then I gave it to Elisabetta Piqué to read. Did you read it? More or less it is the story of the Yazidis. And Nadia Murad tells about terrifying things. I recommend that you read it. In some places it may seem heavy, but for me this was the trasfondo of God, the underlying reason for my decision. That book worked inside me. And also when I listened to Nadia who came to tell me terrible things. Then, with the book… All these things together made the decision; thinking about all the many issues. But finally the decision came and I took it.
And, about the eighth year of my pontificate. Should I do this? [He crosses his fingers.] I do not know if my travel will slow down or not. I only confess that on this trip I felt much more tired than on the others. The 84 [years] do not come alone, it is a consequence. But we will see.
Now I will have to go to Hungary for the final Mass of the Eucharistic Congress, not a visit to the country, but just for the Mass. But Budapest is a two-hour drive from Bratislava, why not make a visit to Slovakia? I do not know. That is how they are thinking. Excuse me. Thank you.
Bruni: Thank you, Eva. Now the next question is from Chico Harlan of the Washington Post.
Chico Harlan (Washington Post): Thank you, Holy Father. I will ask my question in English with the help of Matteo. [In English] This trip obviously had extraordinary meaning for the people who got to see you, but it did also lead to events that caused conditions conducive to spreading the virus. In particular, unvaccinated people packed together singing. So as you weigh the trip, the thought that went into it and what it will mean, do you worry that the people who came to see you could also get sick or even die. Can you explain that reflection and calculation. Thank you.
Pope Francis: As I said recently, the trips are cooked over time in my conscience. And this is one of the [thoughts] that came to me most, “maybe, maybe.” I thought a lot, I prayed a lot about this. And in the end I freely made the decision. But that came from within. I said: “The one who allows me to decide this way will look after the people.” And so I made the decision like this but after prayer and after awareness of the risks, after all.
Bruni: The next question comes from Philippine de Saint-Pierre of the French press.
Philippine de Saint-Pierre (KTO): Your Holiness, we have seen the courage and dynamism of Iraqi Christians. We have also seen the challenges they face: the threat of Islamist violence, the exodus of Christians, and the witnesss of the faith in their environment. These are the challenges facing Christians through the region. We spoke about Lebanon, but also Syria, the Holy Land, etc. The synod for the Middle East took place 10 years ago but its development was interrupted with the attack on the Baghdad cathedral. Are you thinking about organizing something for the entire Middle East, be it a regional synod or any other initiative?
Pope Francis: I’m not thinking about a synod. Initiatives, yes — I am open to many. But a synod never came to mind. You planted the first seed, let’s see what will happen. The life of Christians in Iraq is an afflicted life, but not only for Christians. I came to talk about Yazidis and other religions that did not submit to the power of Daesh. And this, I don’t know why, gave them a very great strength. But there is a problem, like you said, with emigration. Yesterday, as we drove from Qaraqosh to Erbil, there were lots of young people and the age level was low, low, low. Lots of young people. And the question someone asked me: But these young people, what is their future? Where will they go? Many will have to leave the country, many. Before leaving for the trip the other day, on Friday, 12 Iraqi refugees came to say goodbye to me. One had a prosthetic leg because he had escaped under a truck and had an accident… so many escaped. Migration is a double right. The right to not emigrate and the right to emigrate. But these people do not have either of the two. Because they cannot not emigrate, they do not know how to do it. And they cannot emigrate because the world squashes the consciousness that migration is a human right.
The other day — I’ll go back to the migration question — an Italian sociologist told me, speaking about the demographic winter in Italy: “But within 40 years we will have to import foreigners to work and pay pension taxes.” You French are smarter, you have advanced 10 years with the family support law and your level of growth is very large.
But immigration is experienced as an invasion. Because he asked, yesterday I wanted to receive Alan Kurdi’s father after Mass. This child is a symbol for them. Alan Kurdi is a symbol, for which I gave a sculpture to FAO [the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]. It is a symbol that goes beyond a child who died in migration. He is a symbol of dying civilizations, which cannot survive. A symbol of humanity. Urgent measures are needed so that people have work in their place and do not have to emigrate. And also measures to safeguard the right to emigrate. It is true that every country must study well the ability to receive [immigrants], because it is not only about receiving them and leaving them on the beach. Receive them, accompany them, help them progress, and integrate them. The integration of immigrants is key.
Two anecdotes: Zaventem, in Belgium: the terrorists were Belgians, born in Belgium, but from ghettoized, non-integrated Islamic immigrants. Another example: when I went to Sweden, during the farewell ceremony, there was the minister, of what I don’t know, [Ed. Alice Bah-Kuhnke, Swedish Minister of Culture and Democracy from 2014 to 2019], she was very young, and she had a distinctive appearance, not typical of Swedes. She was the daughter of a migrant and a Swede, and so well integrated that she became minister [of culture]. Looking at these two things, they make you think a lot, a lot, a lot.
I would like to thank the generous countries. The countries that receive migrants, Lebanon. Lebanon was generous with emigrants. There are two million Syrians there, I think. And Jordan — unfortunately, we will not pass over Jordan because the king is very nice, King Abdullah wanted to pay us a tribute with the planes in passage. I will thank him now — Jordan has been very generous [with] more than one and a half million migrants, also many other countries… to name just two. Thank you to these generous countries. Thank you very much.
Matteo Bruni: The next question is in Italian from the journalist Stefania Falasca.
Stefania Falasca (Avvenire): Good morning, Holy Father. Thank you. In three days in this country, which is a key country of the Middle East, you have done what the powerful of the earth have been discussing for 30 years. You have already explained what was the interesting genesis of your travels, how the choices for your travels originate, but now in this juncture, can you also consider a trip to Syria? What could be the objectives from now to a year from now of other places where your presence is required?
Pope Francis: Thank you. In the Middle East only the hypothesis, and also the promise is for Lebanon. I have not thought about a trip to Syria. I have not thought about it because the inspiration did not come to me. But I am so close to the tormented and beloved Syria, as I call it. I remember from the beginning of my pontificate that afternoon of prayer in St. Peter’s Square. There was the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. And how many Muslims with carpets on the ground were praying with us for peace in Syria, to stop the bombing, at that moment when it was said that there would be a fierce bombing. I carry Syria in my heart, but thinking about a trip, it has not occurred to me at this moment. Thank you.
Matteo Bruni: Thank you. The next question comes from Sylwia Wysocka of the Polish press.
Sylwia Wysocka (Polish Press Agency): Holy Father, in these very difficult 12 months your activity has been very limited. Yesterday you had the first direct and very close contact with the people in Qaraqosh: What did you feel? And then, in your opinion, now, with the current health system, can the general audiences with people, with faithful, recommence as before?
Pope Francis: I feel different when I am away from the people in the audiences. I would like to restart the general audiences again as soon as possible. Hopefully the conditions will be right. I will follow the norms of the authorities in this. They are in charge and they have the grace of God to help us in this. They are responsible for setting the rules, whether we like them or not. They are responsible and they have to be so.
Now I have started again with the Angelus in the square, with the distances it can be done. There is the proposal of small general audiences, but I have not decided until the development of the situation becomes clear. After these months of imprisonment, I really felt a bit imprisoned, this is, for me, living again.
Living again because it is touching the Church, touching the holy people of God, touching all peoples. A priest becomes a priest to serve, to serve the people of God, not for careerism, right? Not for the money.
This morning in the Mass there was [the Scripture reading about] the healing of Naaman the Syrian and it said that Naaman wanted to give gifts after he had been healed. But he refused… but the prophet Elisha refused them. And the Bible continues: the prophet Elisha’s assistant, when they had left, settled the prophet well and running he followed Naaman and asked for gifts for him. And God said, “the leprosy that Naaman had will cling to you.” I am afraid that we, men and women of the Church, especially we priests, do not have this gratuitous closeness to the people of God which is what saves us.
And to be like Naaman’s servant, to help, but then going back [for the gifts.] I am afraid of that leprosy. And the only one who saves us from the leprosy of greed, of pride, is the holy people of God, like what God spoke about with David, “I have taken you out of the flock, do not forget the flock.” That of which Paul spoke to Timothy: “Remember your mother and grandmother who nursed you in the faith.” Do not lose your belonging to the people of God to become a privileged caste of consecrated, clerics, anything.
This is why contact with the people saves us, helps us. We give the Eucharist, preaching, our function to the people of God, but they give us belonging. Let us not forget this belonging to the people of God. Then begin again like this.
I met in Iraq, in Qaraqosh… I did not imagine the ruins of Mosul, I did not imagine. Really. Yes, I may have seen things, I may have read the book, but this touches, it is touching.
What touched me the most was the testimony of a mother in Qaraqosh. A priest who truly knows poverty, service, penance; and a woman who lost her son in the first bombings by ISIS gave her testimony. She said one word: forgiveness. I was moved. A mother who says: I forgive, I ask forgiveness for them.
I was reminded of my trip to Colombia, of that meeting in Villavicencio where so many people, women above all, mothers and brides, spoke about their experience of the murder of their children and husbands. They said, “I forgive, I forgive.” But this word we have lost. We know how to insult big time. We know how to condemn in a big way. Me first, we know it well. But to forgive, to forgive one’s enemies. This is the pure Gospel. This is what touched me the most in Qaraqosh.
Matteo Bruni: There are other questions if you want. Otherwise we can…
Pope Francis: How long has it been?
Bruni: Almost an hour.
Pope Francis: We have been talking for almost an hour. I don’t know, I would continue, [joking] but the car… [is waiting for me.] Let’s do, how do you say, the last one before celebrating the birthday.
Matteo Bruni: The last is by Catherine Marciano from the French press, from the Agence France-Presse.
Catherine Marciano (AFP): Your Holiness, I wanted to know what you felt in the helicopter seeing the destroyed city of Mosul and praying on the ruins of a church. Since it is Women’s Day, I would like to ask a little question about women… You have supported the women in Qaraqosh with very nice words, but what do you think about the fact that a Muslim woman in love cannot marry a Christian without being discarded by her family or even worse. But the first question was about Mosul. Thank you, Your Holiness.
Pope Francis: I said what I felt in Mosul a little bit en passant. When I stopped in front of the destroyed church, I had no words, I had no words… beyond belief, beyond belief. Not just the church, even the other destroyed churches. Even a destroyed mosque, you can see that [the perpetrators] did not agree with the people. Not to believe our human cruelty, no. At this moment I do not want to say the word, “it begins again,” but let’s look at Africa. With our experience of Mosul, and these people who destroy everything, enmity is created and the so-called Islamic State begins to act. This is a bad thing, very bad, and before moving on to the other question — A question that came to my mind in the church was this: “But who sells weapons to these destroyers? Because they do not make weapons at home. Yes, they will make some bombs, but who sells the weapons, who is responsible? I would at least ask that those who sell the weapons have the sincerity to say: we sell weapons. They don’t say it. It’s ugly.
Women… women are braver than men. But even today women are humiliated. Let’s go to the extreme: one of you showed me the list of prices for women. [Ed. prepared by ISIS for selling Christian and Yazidi women.] I couldn’t believe it: if the woman is like this, she costs this much… to sell her… Women are sold, women are enslaved. Even in the center of Rome, the work against trafficking is an everyday job.
During the Jubilee, I went to visit one of the many houses of the Opera Don Benzi: Ransomed girls, one with her ear cut off because she had not brought the right money that day, and the other brought from Bratislava in the trunk of a car, a slave, kidnapped. This happens among us, the educated. Human trafficking. In these countries, some, especially in parts of Africa, there is mutilation as a ritual that must be done. Women are still slaves, and we have to fight, struggle, for the dignity of women. They are the ones who carry history forward. This is not an exaggeration: Women carry history forward and it’s not a compliment because today is Women’s Day. Even slavery is like this, the rejection of women… Just think, there are places where there is the debate regarding whether repudiation of a wife should be given in writing or only orally. Not even the right to have the act of repudiation! This is happening today, but to keep us from straying, think of what happens in the center of Rome, of the girls who are kidnapped and are exploited. I think I have said everything about this. I wish you a good end to your trip and I ask you to pray for me, I need it. Thank you.
[…]
First we are told AL is a misunderstanding, then no big deal, then a paradigm shift, and now we have *national tours*…
To what, reach all the faithful who are estranged and barred from communion?
Is it just me?
No, it is all of us who love the Catholic Church so much.
No. You are very much not alone.
This cardinal and his boss are shadows of what their positions require.
The Lord will address this in His own good time, but it will be addressed.
IS THIS A REAL STORY OR JUST A JOKE???????????
Real story.
Proverbs 31:6
” 6
Give strong drink to anyone who is perishing,
and wine to the embittered;
7
When they drink, they will forget their misery,
and think no more of their troubles.
…………….
Deut.22:28-29
If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, who is not espoused, and taking her, lie with her, and the matter come to judgment: [29] He that lay with her shall give to the father of the maid fifty sides of silver, and shall have her to wife, because he hath humbled her: he may not put her away all the days of his life.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The father could reject the man….but….if accepted, they married. Other Jews were allowed to divorce….the premarital couple ( other versions has them as being discovered….consensual and she did not yell out for help)…they were “punished” with the first Catholic like marriage vow.
That’s punished in quotes. In reality they were shown a great mercy by God by signing the future Catholic marriage when non annullable.
Ah Yes, the circus is coming to a campus near you. Bring the family. Be sure to take in the side shows,
The first paradigm shift in Church history.
Aren’t we lucky.
Dear Cardinal Cupich:
The Holy Spirit is speaking, but you are not listening.
Your friend in Christ,
John Paul II
Amen!
Nice!
This is how non-binding papal exhortations are made into common practice. This is VII.2.
In fact it might be the opening shots of Vatican 3.
Priests who support immorality are also abusers.
Those who speak the Truth are shunned, told they are prejudiced.
There is a new generation of martyrs for Christ
I want my Church back.
Me too. I am so so worried for those who will embrace all these “shifts” as His Word and Truth.
👍
Amen!
This is a Vatican friendly persuasion program for the recalcitrant on the pastoral premise of Amoris Laeritia, communion for D&R. All the Bishops presenting the seminars are already persuaded. Even once orthodox Archbishop Wilton Gregory Atlanta, a presenter said that “The pope’s vision was being embraced by those responsible for pastoral care. ‘It has received the stamp of pastoral authenticity from those who know the territory,’ calling the exhortation a document that doesn’t gloss over tough problems and challenges while remaining ‘a proclamation of hope through the mercy and grace of God’” (Commonweal Oct 2017). Ironically “A confidential letter was sent by then CDF Prefect Cardinal Ratzinger to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Wilton Gregory that stated ‘no eucharistic communion for the politicians who systematically campaign for abortion'(L’espresso, June 2004). For obvious reason prelates Aquila Denver, Tobin Providence, Conley Lincoln, Molino Madison, Codileone San Fran, Sample Portland OR were likely told they need not apply to be seminar presenters.
Since the voice of conscience is the voice of God…mine says that Cupich is a heretic and I can safely ignore everything he says. See how it works? How can he enforce his view except by…force? I suspect that Cupich would have no problem using his authority to force his priests to toe his line. I guess mercy does have its limits.
If this is not one more step in dismantling the St John Paul II legacy, I don’t know what is.
Welcome to mainstream Anglicanism, RC style.
And as a former Anglican, it grieves me to see the pope and the cardinal he created in Chicago leading us down the same path.
Pray!
He is calling us to Him.
St.John Paul, pray for your priests and for us!
“…the present reality in all its complexity.”
So there is a present reality that overrides past reality in reference to the eternal and unchangeable God?
God help these men who are leading the flock through the wide gate and along the broad way to destruction.
Will this nightmare never end?
While painful to endure, the Francis Pontificate has unintentionally allowed us to see the true colors of many of our prelates. This is good because now we known who to listen to and who to avoid. The schism is here. Personally, I’m giving up guys like Cupich for Lent. Play your games guys; enjoy your new paradigm (religion). I choose to keep the Faith of my grandparents and their parents before them. In other words, I choose the old Faith.
I don’t think of it as the old faith, but the true faith handed to us in Scripture, tradition, and Magisterium. Will they be rewriting the Catechism too?
Amen!
This nightmare will not end until Catholics stand up and protest the dismantling of their Church by heretics. I would love to hear Archbishop Sample attend one of these and rebut the arguments presented. Oh wait I forgot, now logical argumentation is just a white male construct.
Well, these will be “Crackpot Conventions”. Note the same old people are behind it. Presumably, these are the only bishops in the US that endorse the odd program of Pope Francis
1.Wuerl
2.Cupich
3. Tobin
4.Farrell
5. MacElroy
These are also the same ones that endorse the homosexual program of Father James Martin.
These are the same left wing Theologians that push the Martin agenda and appear with him all the time. Imperator-Lee is his buddy. Of the 428 active bishops in the US, it’s always these same five or so, pushing the agenda. Not a very good showing. Most bishops will not endorse AL or the very bizarre interpretation of Catholicism that these people endorse.
Oddly, the National Catholic reporter claims that 47 Bishops will be attending the seminars. Then, they say that “The three seminars — to be held Feb. 19, 21 and 23 — are being kept private.”
WHAT?
They are having secret sessions on AL? Well, either they are just lying about the supposed 47 bishops, (a distinct possibility, since the earlier article said they hoped to get twenty bishops) or they don’t want to allow anyone who is not “on their side” to attend, or let the world knows what goes on in these seminars. Very bizarre. Secret societies shamefully sharing their Amoris Laetitia secrets with the elect. Unbelievably bizarre.
Yes, the theologians who are supposedly attending these seminars are quite a bunch… on record with their erroneous teachings. The nightmare continues…
These ‘men of God’ need our prayers!
Pray for these men who have gone astray and taken so many with them.
All seminaries will be emptied, like Cupich and Bergoglio emptied out the ones they ran in Argentina and Spokane.
I wouldn’t trust my children in a room alone with these disbelievers.
Since when does one single document – Amoris Laetitia – suddenly have the power to override everything the Church has ever taught about marriage, human sexuality, fitness to receive the Eucharist and everything else?
Can a schism be far behind?
The schism is not something that is in danger of happening or about to happen. The schism is here and has been here for several years. A schism, like a demon, comes in on little cat’s feet. Cui resistite, fortes in fide.
One can only hope that Catholic Bishops will stay away from this event in droves. It is high time for Bishops, instead of gathering in the company of theologians whose primary pursuit is almost always the futile pursuit of fathoming the unfathomable God, instead gather in a state of personal abandon in the company of the unfathomable God to engage in the vulnerability to Him required to allow Him to speak to them for Himself. In this manner, it is genuine knowledge of God which is obtained and not the useless and false promise of understanding Him.
At what point will orthodox canon lawyers revisit the violations of canon law in the election of Bergoglio? It looks like Bergoglio, if he continues on his present course, will himself provide proof that he simply cannot be a genuine pope. Maybe that will be the impetus for canon lawyers to do so.
The positive proof he may himself provide will be this: A genuine Successor of St. Peter cannot signal his approval of the destruction of the universality (catholicity) of the essentials of the belief and practice of the Catholic Church, either explicitly or by his silence.
If behavior that is gravely contrary to the teachings and tradition which have been preserved by the Holy Spirit within the Church for millennia is blessed and/or approved of in one diocese, but is appropriately still considered a mortal sin in another, the universality of the essentials of the belief and practice of the Church is being destroyed, which is to say the Catholic Church is being destroyed. A genuine Successor of St. Peter simply will not tolerate this.
Sorry, old chum. There were no violations of canon law in the election of Bergoglio. This has been looked at many times. Pope Francis is your Pope. It is possible to have a bad Pope. It has happened many times before
Hello, samton909,
I am not sure your assertion that “There were no violations of canon law in the election of Bergoglio” can be made with the certainty with which you make it.
See this article:
If Ivereigh is to be believed, was Bergoglio’s election invalid?
and Google up:
site:fromrome.wordpress.com ivereigh
for much, much more information on the subject.
Amoris Laetitia is just the table setting for all the rebellious bishops to sit down together. Rebellious bishops have always been around but now they have the venue over which to associate and join forces. “Momentum” is a good name for this conference because these bishops know that they have it; and they are no longer afraid to use it.
Please print the names of all bishops attending the Cupich dog and pony show. We want to know who to keep a very wary eye on in the future.
One of the marks of the Church is Unity, well now we have confusion and a schism brewing.
The sub culture that produced so much carnage in the Church in the 60s and 70s is now to be an uberculture welcomed in the Church as civil rights heroes of the sexual revolution. When I returned to the Church in 2007, I thought the hierarchy had learned their lessons. But no … Heartbreaking …
I thought he said the conferences would be held at Catholic colleges…none of the ones mentioned are Catholic.
My my my…the vision of Pope Leo VIII sure seems more and more validated. Bad idea to box with God tho. HE always wins in the end.
Amores Laetitia (and why has this encyclical retained its Latin title instead of the English translation ‘The Joy of Love’?) was not written by Pope Francis sitting in a cave without any input from others. It was written as a summary of a world-wide consultation with both laity and bishops. It regularly refers to the findings of ‘the Synod Fathers’. It also regularly refers to Church teaching on marriage and specifically states that it is not challenging this teaching. Perhaps its attitude can best be summed up in the quote ‘The Synod Fathers stated that, although the Church realises that any breach of the marriage bond “is against the will of God”, she is also “conscious of frailty of many of her children.
To all the commentators above, can I request that you read the WHOLE document, not one footnote. Please also remember that the devil’s favourite tool is ‘divide and rule’ and make sure that you are not unwittingly doing his work for him.
To Jane Coll: What about all the good cardinals, bishops and priests who have read the entire document AL and find it wanting? Also, pay attention to what is being said by those prelates who support AL as they speak on other topics important to the Faith. They seem to be re-writing the Scriptures and the history of the Church. Talk about being divisive. I want my Faith back. Enough already!
but no one is taking it away from you! None of the fundamental teachings of the Church have changed. All this soul-searching and agonising is just about a suggested modification of the attitude taken to those sinners (i.e. you and me) who struggle to achieve the perfection that the Church rules are guiding us towards. Some of us fail in some areas, others fail in other areas. We all fail somewhere. If we expect a compassionate attitude from our confessor towards our weakness in e.g. sins against charity, should we not expect an equally compassionate attitude towards sins of the flesh? AL is all about helping people to move in the right direction, nowhere does it say that no movement is necessary.
After writing that comment, I found a sentence in AL that is worth quoting – ‘In order to avoid all misunderstanding, I would point out that in no way must the Church desist from proposing the full ideal of marriage, God’s plan in all its grandeur.’ (para 307)
I also remembered a priest who have refused to baptise illegitimate babies (and actually using the word ‘bastard’ to the mother)and a priest who told an abused wife that she had made her choice and had to live with it. Perhaps it is these attitudes that Pope Francis and the other members of the Synod are trying to change. Are they wrong in doing so?
To Jane Coll: Yes, we are all sinners. We go to Confession and confess our sins and make a firm intention to amend our lives and not to commit the sins we confess again. Does AL allow for this? I think not.
Of course it does. That is the ideal to be aimed at.However it acknowledges (quoting the Catechism) that, while something is objectively sinful, the culpability of each individual depends on their specific circumstances. Murder is always wrong but murdering in order to steal is worse than murdering in self-defence. So adultery just for the thrill of it is worse than being in a second marriage that is not recognised by the Church. I remember being on a retreat week-end with a lady who was thinking of coming back to the Church after a long gap. Her first husband had been abusive but her parish priest told her that she could not apply for an annulment. Her second husband was good to her and to her children. When we went to Mass, she sat in the bench watching me go up to receive Holy Communion with such a look of longing on her face that I was almost in tears. She could not ask her husband to live as her brother – he was not a church-goer and did not understand the issues involved. For her to leave him would have broken her heart and his and would have deprived the children of a loving father. So the sensible, caring thing for her to do was just to forget about re-joining the Church or to find one that did not penalise her for being a wife and mother. Is this really what Jesus would have wanted? Remember that AL says that people in irregular situations must accept that they are in a sinful state and must be willing to move as much as they can towards a greater approximation to the ideal. In my example, could the lady not have been allowed the help of the grace received in Holy Communion on the understanding that she would regularly re-asses her situation as her situation changed e.g. when the children grew up/her husband developed a better understanding/whatever?
My comments under Bishop Barron’s column are context for this: while the Church cannot prevent all divorce among its parishioners, it has done nothing, NOTHING significant since 1965’s Gaudium et spes, no. 46 (marriage & family as one of the “Problems of Special Urgency”) to stem the tide. The American Bishops named the 1980s as the “decade of the family.” Many diocesan offices were opened or expanded, and just as many closed or reduced since. But a chancery office cannot renew marriage. That’s the work of pastors in parishes (see canon 1063), something which St. John Paul exhorted in Familiaris consortio, nos 65-71 which was ignored, except for the hopfeul pastoral manual “A Family Perspective in Church and Society (1988, 1998). From what I can tell, all these bureaucratic “actions,” along with white papers, focus groups, etc. resulted in more documents and defenses of marriage, but no plan of action to adopt St. John Paul’s prescription to accompany couples through their life cycle (for which engagement, infant baptism, first reconciliation, first Eucharist and confirmation align very well). Reminds me of the 7 last words of the church: “we’ve never done it that way before.” Meanwhile, Cupich arises in the vacuum created by such inaction, complicating what is already a pastoral challenge before Francis took his seat on the Chair. So I pray, hope, raise a voice…St. John Paul termed marriage “the primordial sacrament.” For me, it’s renewal is necessary for an organic renewal of the Church, and its mission of evangelization.
I think I’ll wait for the seminar in Philadelphia on AL.
Pride of place accorded to “theologians” from “Call to Action” and and advocates for the ordination of women priests and for artificial birth control. While he’s at it he might as well invite Cardinal Marx and James Martin SJ to extoll the virtues of rectal intimacy.
Its all cut from the same cloth.
Cardinal Cupich has erected an altar in the desert of secular materialism to the idol of personal notions, his and those who share them.
This is utter fraudulence.
Where was Blase Cupich hiding during the last two pontificates with these boldly contrary view points? He was wearing a mask. In place when necessary, off when it worked for him.
What kind of man does that?
What kind of priest persists in pastoral practice when he does not hold the perennial Magisterium of the Church in his heart?
Hubris on steroids.
James: I think God is revealing all the sins in the Church starting at the top so that the purification can take place. I believe God wanted Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to resign and allowed the pontificate of Francis to get the work done. I believe that our beloved Pope Benedict said somewhere that our Church would one day be a much smaller Church. I think he said this before he was elected to the Papacy. Read paragraph 675 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church….before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers… the mystery of iniquity in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.. There’s more. Please refer to these paragraphs 675-677 in the Catechism.
And Sister Lucia, one of the Fatima children, said that the final battle between Christ and Satan would be about the family. With Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis has brought this battle over the family within the Church.
Why have so very, very few Bishops spoken out against all this distortion of dogma? If they do not, the Church as we have known it will shatter in schism. Where are the voices of the solid Bishops? One commentator said there are some 428 active bishops in the US. Doubt that since there are only 190 dioceses, some of which have auxiliary bishops, but even so where are the 150 or so who may be faithful?
Perhaps because they do not think that it is a distortion of dogma? Perhaps they are perfectly happy to leave their parish priests to apply the rules in a compassionate and merciful way, taking into consideration the individual circumstances of their parishioners.
Sad that so many feel “compassion” instead of speaking the truth in love: same sex marriage.
We are all called to lead a chaste life.
If Cardinal Cupich does not already have enough funds for the conference, I suggest that he gives a call to Mr. Soros, I am sure he will be very happy to contribute.