If Pope Francis is looking for signs of old-style schism or schismatic tendencies, he should look to Germany and the north, not to the west and the New World.
Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Antananarivo, Madagascar, to Rome Sept. 10, 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
The thing is, Pope Francis hit the nail right on the head. Odd as it might sound to hear Peter’s successor say he is “unafraid” of schism, there’s no reason for him to lose any sleep—not over the particular case of the Church in the United States, to a query about which the Pope was narrowly responding when he made his remark while on the Rome-bound flight from Mauritius—and no reason to dwell on what is really little more than the pet narrative of a few talented scribblers with a good bit of book-learning and more imagination.
For one thing, most Catholics in the United States are mostly oblivious to the controversies and troubles—real or perceived—of this pontificate, and that majority includes regular churchgoers. There’s a good deal of comfort in that. For almost all of Catholic history, almost nobody knew what the pope was doing or saying, and few of those who did cared much one way or the other. Plus ça change.
So there was something almost surreal about Pope Francis’ lengthy entertainment of a question about the possibility of “schism” in the US Church and his fears for such a thing. In the autumn of 2018, at what was then the height of the crisis and the low point of their still-hemorrhaging credibility, the US bishops could not agree to ask the Pope if he could maybe, someday, possibly consider showing some inclination to make good on his promise to report on what the Vatican knew and when regarding the disgraced former cardinal archbishop of our capital see, Theodore Edgar “Uncle Ted” McCarrick.
A few US bishops have talked a little smack here and there, but every one of them has toed the palace line on every single thing that really counts. The purveyors of the schism narrative seem to think Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, poor man, is the likely candidate. If he were willing—he is not—he would be incapable. Cardinal Burke is a lawyer, not a politician. He thinks like the lawyer he is, and speaks like one, too. There’s nothing wrong with that, in itself, but it is not the stuff of which tragedy is made.
Even the psychology of Francis’ implacable and unreasonable critics is wrong for schism. They like to be the “faithful remnant,” irreducible in their opposition, but the allure of confessing the true faith in the face of official displeasure—even the vision of martyrdom glimpsed in fever—is nevertheless ultimately tethered to loyalty. Even if this were not the case, there is no market for schismatics—not real schismatics—and we are talking about the United States of America, after all. It’s a big place, where anyone with enough gumption can eke out at least a meager living—ask “Pope” Michael—but there’s no real money in it.
The real accomplishment of Pope Francis’ remarks on the plane will likely prove to be the advancement of a project one might fairly describe as defining schism down.
The word means, or at least it used to mean, something—something terrible, in fact, and something very specific: a formal separation or division of a definite group, acting corporately, from the hierarchical leadership of the Church and the body of the faithful. If one is looking for signs of old-style schism or schismatic tendencies, he should look to Germany and the north, not to the west and the New World. If the letter Pope Francis reportedly sent by way of his Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops to the hierarchical leadership of Germany regarding the “binding synodal process” the Germans have in the works is any indication, the Pope knows this.
Now, we have “pseudo-schismatic Christian paths” that are somehow less severe expressions of “an elite condition of an ideology separated from doctrine,” to hear Pope Francis tell it.
“[A] morality of ideology, such as Pelagianism, to put it that way, makes you rigid—and today we have many, many schools of rigidity inside the Church,” Pope Francis explained. “They are not schism, but they are pseudo-schismatic Christian paths,” he went on to say, “that in the end finish badly.” Then, a list of the usual suspects: “When you see rigid Christians, bishops, priests, behind them are problems; there isn’t the holiness of the Gospel.”
“For this we should be meek, not severe, with people who are tempted by these attacks, because they are going through a problem,” Pope Francis said, “and we should accompany them with meekness.” Perhaps this explains why he did not have the dubia cardinals’ hats when they took their questions public — and he might have — nor even to this day. That explanation, however, loses some of its plausibility when one considers what Francis praised as the right way to criticize him: “I criticize [the pope] and wait for the response, I go away from him and I speak and I write an article and I ask him to respond.” Pope Francis said, “This is fair, this is love for the Church.”
That’s what lots of folks apparently now styled “pseudo-schismatics” have been doing, for years.
Not the implacable and unreasonable critics, mind: they’ll never be happy. As my dear mother, of happy memory, was wont to say, “Some folks’ll whine about a hot fudge sundae.” They’re the ones who “criticize without wanting to hear the response and without dialogue,” which, Francis also rightly says, “is not desiring the good of the Church.” It also sounds a lot like the modus operandi of the German hierarchical leadership these days.
The most interesting thing about Pope Francis’ response to the question about schism in the US Church was that it came after he’d spent a good deal of time warning journalists of the pitfalls of imposing narratives.
Whether it is a story about a geriatric cabal of left-leaning churchmen trying to rig a papal election, or tales of a small but highly-organized, well-financed group of mostly-American malcontents out to force a papal resignation and put their own guy on the papal throne, we have more than enough narrative-weaving going around. Whether Pope Francis intended it or not, he just fed one of those narratives.
If we take his admonition to journalists to heart, and keep strictly to the facts, Pope Francis isn’t worried about schism in the US because there aren’t real schismatics to worry about there. To the extent he is worried about schism, the danger comes from other quarters, and he knows it.
(Note: The opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinion or position of other CWR contributors or of Ignatius Press.)
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Pope Francis with Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in the Vatican, Nov. 10, 2017. / L’Osservatore Romano.
Vatican City, Nov 17, 2021 / 04:00 am (CNA).
Pope Francis said on Wednesday that the justice and peace commissions of the world’s bishops’ conferences offer an “indispensable service.”
The pope told a meeting of justice and peace commissions on Nov. 17 that they performed the vital tasks of raising awareness of the Catholic Church’s social doctrine and defending human dignity.
“These commissions carry out an indispensable service in the context of the social pastoral care of the local Churches,” the pope said in his message to the two-day online conference hosted by the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
“Indeed, they have the task of spreading and making known the Church’s social doctrine, working actively for the protection of the dignity of the human person and his rights, with a preferential option for the poor and the least.”
“In this way, they contribute to the growth of social, economic and ecological justice, and to the building of peace.”
Conference participants are reflecting on how justice and peace commissions can promote authentic development amid the coronavirus pandemic, drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclicalLaudato si’ and his 2020 encyclicalFratelli tutti.
The pope recalled that in 1967, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, Paul VI established the Pontifical Commission “Justitia et Pax,” which John Paul II renamed the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 1988.
The pope welcomed the justice and peace commissions’ focus on his two encyclicals during their Nov. 17-18 meeting.
“Indeed, in every part of the world, integral development, and therefore justice and peace, can be built only through these two paths: care for the common home and fraternity and social friendship,” he said.
“These two paths have their origin in the Gospel of Christ, but they are paths on which we can walk together with many men and women of other Christian confessions, of other religions and even without a specific religious affiliation.”
The pope acknowledged the challenges posed by COVID-19, conflict, and backsliding on human rights.
“The current crisis has revealed numerous contradictions in the economic and political system, while unresolved challenges persist that require the joint efforts of many actors,” he said.
“I urge you, therefore, to address these issues also in collaboration with other ecclesial and civil realities — local, regional, and international — committed to the promotion of justice and peace.”
Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 13, 2023 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 265th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy:
2013
March 13 — About two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI steps down from the papacy, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected pope. He takes the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and proclaims from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another.”
March 14 — The day after he begins his pontificate, Pope Francis returns to his hotel to personally pay his hotel bill and collect his luggage.
July 8 — Pope Francis visits Italy’s island of Lampedusa and meets with a group of 50 migrants, most of whom are young men from Somalia and Eritrea. The island, which is about 200 miles off the coast of Tunisia, is a common entry point for migrants who flee parts of Africa and the Middle East to enter Europe. This is the pope’s first pastoral visit outside of Rome and sets the stage for making reaching out to the peripheries a significant focus.
Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 2, 2013. . Elise Harris/CNA.
July 23–28 — Pope Francis visits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in World Youth Day 2013. More than 3 million people from around the world attend the event.
July 29 — On the return flight from Brazil, Pope Francis gives his first papal news conference and sparks controversy by saying “if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” The phrase is prompted by a reporter asking the pope a question about priests who have homosexual attraction.
Nov. 24 — Pope Francis publishes his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The document illustrates the pope’s vision for how to approach evangelization in the modern world.
2014
Feb. 22 — Pope Francis holds his first papal consistory to appoint 19 new cardinals, including ones from countries in the developing world that have never previously been represented in the College of Cardinals, such as Haiti.
March 22 — Pope Francis creates the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The commission works to protect the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, such as the victims of sexual abuse.
Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience on Nov. 29, 2014. Bohumil Petrik/CNA.
Oct. 5 — The Synod on the Family begins. The bishops discuss a variety of concerns, including single-parent homes, cohabitation, homosexual adoption of children, and interreligious marriages.
Dec. 6 — After facing some pushback for his efforts to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis discusses his opinion in an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine news outlet: “Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me, getting the resistance out into the open, no stealthy mumbling when there is disagreement. It’s healthy to get things out into the open, it’s very healthy.”
2015
Jan. 18 — To conclude a trip to Asia, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Manila, Philippines. Approximately 6 million to 7 million people attend the record-setting Mass, despite heavy rain.
March 23 — Pope Francis visits Naples, Italy, to show the Church’s commitment to helping the fight against corruption and organized crime in the city.
May 24 — To emphasize the Church’s mission to combat global warming and care for the environment, Pope Francis publishes the encyclical Laudato si’, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems.
Pope Francis at a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 17, 2015. Bohumil Petrik.
Sept. 19–22 — Pope Francis visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro in the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1998. During his homily, Francis discusses the dignity of the human person: “Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.”
Sept. 22–27 — After departing from Cuba, Pope Francis makes his first papal visit to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he speaks to a joint session of Congress, in which he urges lawmakers to work toward promoting the common good, and canonizes the Franciscan missionary St. Junípero Serra. He also attends the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis begins the second Synod on the Family to address issues within the modern family, such as single-parent homes, cohabitation, poverty, and abuse.
Oct. 18 — The pope canonizes St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azélie “Zelie” Guérin. The married couple were parents to five nuns, including St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
Dec. 8 — Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy begins. The year focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness and people’s redemption from sin. The pope delegates certain priests in each diocese to be Missionaries of Mercy who have the authority to forgive sins that are usually reserved for the Holy See.
2016
March 19 — Pope Francis publishes the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, which discusses a wide variety of issues facing the modern family based on discussions from the two synods on the family. The pope garners significant controversy from within the Church for comments he makes in Chapter 8 about Communion for the divorced and remarried.
April 16 — After visiting refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis allows three Muslim refugee families to join him on his flight back to Rome. He says the move was not a political statement.
Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Feb. 24, 2016. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
July 26–31 — Pope Francis visits Krakow, Poland, as part of the World Youth Day festivities. About 3 million young Catholic pilgrims from around the world attend.
Sept. 4 — The pope canonizes St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is also known as Mother Teresa. The saint, a nun from Albania, dedicated her life to missionary and charity work, primarily in India.
Sept. 30–Oct. 2 — Pope Francis visits Georgia and Azerbaijan on his 16th trip outside of Rome since the start of his papacy. His trip focuses on Catholic relations with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to Amatrice, Italy, to pray for the victims of an earthquake in central Italy that killed nearly 300 people.
2017
May 12–13 — In another papal trip, Francis travels to Fatima, Portugal, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Marian apparition to three children in the city.
July 11 — Pope Francis adds another category of Christian life suitable for the consideration of sainthood: “offering of life.” The category is distinct from martyrdom, which only applies to someone who is killed for his or her faith. The new category applies to those who died prematurely through an offering of their life to God and neighbor.
Pope Francis greets a participant in the World Day of the Poor in Rome, Nov. 16, 2017. L’Osservatore Romano.
Nov. 19 — On the first-ever World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis eats lunch with 4,000 poor and people in need in Rome.
Nov. 27–Dec. 2 — In another trip to Asia, Pope Francis travels to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He visits landmarks and meets with government officials, Catholic clergy, and Buddhist monks. He also preaches the Gospel and promotes peace in the region.
2018
Jan. 15–21 — The pope takes another trip to Latin America, this time visiting Chile and Peru. The pontiff meets with government officials and members of the clergy while urging the faithful to remain close to the clergy and reject secularism. The Chilean visit leads to controversy over Chilean clergy sex abuse scandals.
Aug. 2 — The Vatican formally revises No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which concerns the death penalty. The previous text suggested the death penalty could be permissible in certain circumstances, but the revision states that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
Aug. 25 — Archbishop Carlo Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, publishes an 11-page letter calling for the resignation of Pope Francis and accusing him and other Vatican officials of covering up sexual abuse including allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope initially does not directly respond to the letter, but nine months after its publication he denies having prior knowledge about McCarrick’s conduct.
Aug. 25–26 — Pope Francis visits Dublin, Ireland, to attend the World Meeting of Families. The theme is “the Gospel of family, joy for the world.”
Pope Francis at the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Ireland. . Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Oct. 3–28 — The Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment takes place. The synod focuses on best practices to teach the faith to young people and to help them discern God’s will.
2019
Jan. 22–27 — The third World Youth Day during Pope Francis’ pontificate takes place during these six days in Panama City, Panama. Young Catholics from around the world gather for the event, with approximately 3 million people in attendance.
Feb. 4 — Pope Francis signs a joint document in with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, titled the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.” The document focuses on people of different faiths uniting together to live peacefully and advance a culture of mutual respect.
Pope Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a joint declaration on human fraternity during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4, 2019. Vatican Media.
Feb. 21–24 — The Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which is labeled the Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit, takes place. The meeting focuses on sexual abuse scandals in the Church and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
Oct. 6–27 — The Church holds the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which is also known as the Amazon Synod. The synod is meant to present ways in which the Church can better evangelize the Amazon region but leads to controversy when carved images of a pregnant Amazonian woman, referred to by the pope as Pachamama, are used in several events and displayed in a basilica near the Vatican.
Oct. 13 — St. John Henry Newman, an Anglican convert to Catholicism and a cardinal, is canonized by Pope Francis. Newman’s writings inspired Catholic student associations at nonreligious colleges and universities in the United States and other countries.
2020
March 15 — Pope Francis takes a walking pilgrimage in Rome to the chapel of the crucifix and prays for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifix was carried through Rome during the plague of 1522.
March 27 — Pope Francis gives an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pope Francis venerates the miraculous crucifix of San Marcello al Corso in St. Peter’s Square during his Urbi et Orbi blessing, March 27, 2020. Vatican Media.
2021
March 5–8 — In his first papal trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis becomes the first pope to visit Iraq. On his trip, he signs a joint statement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemning extremism and promoting peace.
July 3 — Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, is indicted in a Vatican court for embezzlement, money laundering, and other crimes. The pope gives approval for the indictment.
July 4 — Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery for diverticulitis, a common condition in older people. The Vatican releases a statement that assures the pope “reacted well” to the surgery. Francis is released from the hospital after 10 days.
July 16 — Pope Francis issues a motu proprio titled Traditionis custodes. The document imposes heavy restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Dec. 2–6 — The pope travels to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes another visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to meet with migrants.
Pope Francis greets His Beatitude Ieronymos II in Athens, Greece on Dec. 5, 2021. Vatican Media
2022
Jan. 11 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a record store in Rome called StereoSound. The pope, who has an affinity for classical music, blesses the newly renovated store.
March 19 — The pope promulgates Praedicate evangelium, which reforms the Roman Curia. The reforms emphasize evangelization and establish more opportunities for the laity to be in leadership positions.
May 5 — Pope Francis is seen in a wheelchair for the first time in public and begins to use one more frequently. The pope has been suffering from knee problems for months.
Pope Francis greeted the crowd in a wheelchair at the end of his general audience on Aug. 3, 2022. Daniel Ibanez/CNA
July 24–30 — In his first papal visit to Canada, Pope Francis apologizes for the harsh treatment of the indigenous Canadians, saying many Christians and members of the Catholic Church were complicit.
2023
Jan. 31–Feb. 5 — Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. During his visit, the pope condemns political violence in the countries and promotes peace. He also participates in an ecumenical prayer service with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.
Well done, Chris.
Truth of the matter, which I hate to say, is that this Pope has made himself irrelevant. I speak all around the country (and abroad), to clergy, Catholic school teachers, Religious, seminarians. I do not exaggerate when I say that in all those gatherings, it is most rare for the name of Francis to come up, except in the Eucharistic Prayer. Those folks do talk about — and quote — John Paul and Benedict, but not Francis. They have concluded that what little he has to say is not worth quoting; further, as not a few have told me, “the mention of his name sucks all the oxygen out of a room.”
Aside from his ecological stuff, not even The Left are pleased with him since they feel he has not delivered on what they perceived were his promises/their hopes.
Very sad.
Yes Father, I would have to agree, sadly. I am a catechist for Confirmation students, and I never quote from pope Francis, and at times have to reassert Church teaching in contradiction to some of what our Holy Father asserts. I sew, with difficulty, a stitch with one hand only to have our Holy Father undo it with his own.
Altieri alleges that the Pontiff’s charge schismatic against Am Catholics is bogus. If “rigid” Am Catholics are perceived by Pope Francis as Pelagian Schismatics for rigidly following tradition then the Germans, that is those following their fuehrer Cardinal Marx – who practice the opposite, are not Pelagian schismatics and must be in accord with that logic adhering to the Pontiff’s authority. Then the charge of schism is itself bogus since in either instance the German or the Am it cannot be reasonably shown how in fact they are repudiating his authority. The correct legal description of events is Apostasy. Perhaps what I perceive in this can be repudiated and I welcome a response.
Dear Father, “that this Pope has made himself irrelevant”. Perhaps you should bhave gone with your gut feeling, Father, i.e. “which I hate to say” If there’s “hate” in making the statement, then why make it at all – even if it’s not “exaggerated”? Encouraging to hear that Pope Francis’s name still comes up in the Eucharistic Prayer. Is Pope Francis still the Vicar or Christ for all the hierarchy, clergy, Catholic school teachers, Religious and seminarians – even if “the mention of his name sucks all the oxygen out of the room”?
Being the “vicar of Christ” is simply a standard to live up to, the standard being Jesus, and the pope is His “representative.” Since we know from the long history of past popes that being Pope doesn’t make a man holy, being pope can end up being as little as the juridical status of holding the office.
Since we know some popes have been immoral, we know that the office confers no “enchantment” to imitate Jesus.
And I return your best wishes that God will bless all of the faithful.
I suppose some take comfort in the idea that Bergoglio’s carryings-ons are just “churchy” matters, “Vatican inside-baseball” that Catholics can snooze through just fine.
The problem is that Bergoglio is partnered with tyrants–those who have engineered the invasion of Europe and North America with non-Christians who hate Christianity; those who are battening down a regime of abortion and contraception–both, in many cases, compulsory; those who are campaigning relentlessly to cut off energy to billions of people–ensuring death for billions, starting with the poorest. Bergoglio and the American bishops know perfectly well that immigrants–including the “Catholics”–vote 80% pro-abortion, and have already flipped ten or so formerly pro-life states.
According to Henry Sire, at the very moment when Hillary was PROMISING to coerce the Catholic Church to endorse abortion, Bergoglio sent her a huge check from Peter’s Pence. This shows that, if Bergoglio had his way, the Catholic Church in the U.S., and everywhere, would be under the heel of the government, as it now is under the McCarrick-Bergoglio regime in Communist China.
The unconsciousness of the typical Catholic is nothing to rejoice about. It means they will sleep-walk into the ape church, the anti-church that Bergoglio is erecting.
With by our almighty God’s grace given prime talents to us, which are known as sensus fidelium et ratio, every of us, the true Catholics, should and must know that everyone who in fact is a true Catholic cannot be(come) in schism with one who is heretic and apostate. Already, for a long time.
So there cannot and shouldn’t be any talk in the so-called schism terminology. because the great accuser is the one who accuses the righteous with his lies for the purpose to blame them for exactly that what he is doing, and again, not just a schism, but much worse,- heresy and apostasy.
Is that man not the one about whom prophet Isaiah speaks:
“Vae qui dicitis malum bonum, et bonum malum; ponentes tenebras lucem, et lucem tenebras; ponentes amarum in dulce, et dulce in amarum!” (Is 5,20)
And further, when apostle saint Paul in his letter to Galatians says:
“Miror quod sic tam cito transferimini ab eo qui vos vocavit in gratiam Christi in aliud Evangelium: quod non est aliud, nisi sunt aliqui qui vos conturbant, et volunt convertere Evangelium Christi.
Sed licet nos aut angelus de caelo evangelizet vobis praeterquam quod evangelizavimus vobis, anathema sit.
Sicut praediximus, et nunc iterum dico : si quis vobis evangelizaverit praeter id quod accepistis, anathema sit.” (Gal 1,6-9)
I am attempting to ignore possible entries in a “caption contest” for the photo of Bergoglio accompanying this article and not succeeding.
I agree with Fr. Stravinskas. Not only has Bergoglio made himself “irrelevant” like a constant stimulus no longer perceived , he has become less of an original song writer more like a DJ (no longer a bouncer) for the New World Order/NGO Church who doesn’t take “rigid” Catholic requests (like answers to the Dubbia or the OpenLetter).
He is also clueless that rather than “progressive” theology his set list is primarily the Greatest Hits of the Theological Seminary of the Seventies …”dated” vs Tradition.
And yes millennials and more and more Catholics of every age are opting out.
But let’s also admit that this “irrelevance” does indeed push forward the Agenda just like his imprecision.
Please note how much of this papacy is built on deprivations vs clarity and affirmations. Some might call that metaphysically “evil.” I’m one of those people.
After initial German giddiness (if there is such a thing) the greater proposed “relevance” of the Synodal mess will be seen for what it is: no reason for most people to even show up…and pay money.
The fact that the instrumentum laboris of the Amazon Synod has nothing to say about child abuse and infanticide says it all.
“His Forgetfulness of Argentina” is a smooth operator.
He has “The Mind of McCarrick.”
Every word, and every silence, every act and every omission, functions to attack “the communion of faith” and substitute “the communion of McCarrick,” where the only “currency” is the mutual esteem between apostate viceroys in the “McCarrick Establishment.”
Since we all know that “His Eminence” Cardinal Marx of Germany is part the dwindling “magic circle” of now 6 (?) “Cardinal Coordinators,” and we all know that “His Forgetfulness” is a shrewd and highly intelligent and well-informed man, we can be assured that “His Forgetfulness” is delighted with what “His Eminence” Marx is doing to the (Roman…does that have any residual meaning after these 50 years?) Catholic Church.
But not to worry: the chair of theology at Fordham University (co-signers of McCarrick’s Land of Lakes “manifesto” in 1967) is a non-Catholic man who lives in sodomy publicly “married” to another man.
Everything is “progressing” as intended by the “McCarrick Establishment,” of which we all partake in “the communion of McCarrick,” under-the-hand of “His Forgetfulness of Argentina.”
The “relevancy” of Pope Francis is that he has invigorated liberal dioceses and parishes. With all due respect to the opinion of Father Stravinskas this Francisco-energy in my own diocese has stifled the opportunities and good morale of several orthodox priests. Some of our best clergy have sought assignments outside of our diocese and have been “allowed” to pursue these assignments (only after they have been kept down from pastoral and preistly roles within) as a subtle way of purging the diocese of so-called rebels. Everything from youth formation to pastoral planning has taken on the flavor of Francis. Without ever knowing of it, Father Stravinskas would never be welcome to speak at one of our new diocesan conferences, so how could he possibly glean the Francis effect in such a locale.
Well done, Chris.
Truth of the matter, which I hate to say, is that this Pope has made himself irrelevant. I speak all around the country (and abroad), to clergy, Catholic school teachers, Religious, seminarians. I do not exaggerate when I say that in all those gatherings, it is most rare for the name of Francis to come up, except in the Eucharistic Prayer. Those folks do talk about — and quote — John Paul and Benedict, but not Francis. They have concluded that what little he has to say is not worth quoting; further, as not a few have told me, “the mention of his name sucks all the oxygen out of a room.”
Aside from his ecological stuff, not even The Left are pleased with him since they feel he has not delivered on what they perceived were his promises/their hopes.
Very sad.
Very sad, too, that I find what you say comforting, Father Stravinskus.
Yes Father, I would have to agree, sadly. I am a catechist for Confirmation students, and I never quote from pope Francis, and at times have to reassert Church teaching in contradiction to some of what our Holy Father asserts. I sew, with difficulty, a stitch with one hand only to have our Holy Father undo it with his own.
Altieri alleges that the Pontiff’s charge schismatic against Am Catholics is bogus. If “rigid” Am Catholics are perceived by Pope Francis as Pelagian Schismatics for rigidly following tradition then the Germans, that is those following their fuehrer Cardinal Marx – who practice the opposite, are not Pelagian schismatics and must be in accord with that logic adhering to the Pontiff’s authority. Then the charge of schism is itself bogus since in either instance the German or the Am it cannot be reasonably shown how in fact they are repudiating his authority. The correct legal description of events is Apostasy. Perhaps what I perceive in this can be repudiated and I welcome a response.
Dear Father, “that this Pope has made himself irrelevant”. Perhaps you should bhave gone with your gut feeling, Father, i.e. “which I hate to say” If there’s “hate” in making the statement, then why make it at all – even if it’s not “exaggerated”? Encouraging to hear that Pope Francis’s name still comes up in the Eucharistic Prayer. Is Pope Francis still the Vicar or Christ for all the hierarchy, clergy, Catholic school teachers, Religious and seminarians – even if “the mention of his name sucks all the oxygen out of the room”?
No further comment. Post or not post as you wish.
God bless Fathers Stravinskas, Morello and your other respondents
Mr. Carden-
Being the “vicar of Christ” is simply a standard to live up to, the standard being Jesus, and the pope is His “representative.” Since we know from the long history of past popes that being Pope doesn’t make a man holy, being pope can end up being as little as the juridical status of holding the office.
Since we know some popes have been immoral, we know that the office confers no “enchantment” to imitate Jesus.
And I return your best wishes that God will bless all of the faithful.
Mr. Carden –
Since you seem desirous of a response, may I begin by asking what your concern is about the pope being called the “Vicar of Christ?”
What is the meaning of the “Vicar of Christ?”
I need add that De Jure Altieri is correct.
I suppose some take comfort in the idea that Bergoglio’s carryings-ons are just “churchy” matters, “Vatican inside-baseball” that Catholics can snooze through just fine.
The problem is that Bergoglio is partnered with tyrants–those who have engineered the invasion of Europe and North America with non-Christians who hate Christianity; those who are battening down a regime of abortion and contraception–both, in many cases, compulsory; those who are campaigning relentlessly to cut off energy to billions of people–ensuring death for billions, starting with the poorest. Bergoglio and the American bishops know perfectly well that immigrants–including the “Catholics”–vote 80% pro-abortion, and have already flipped ten or so formerly pro-life states.
According to Henry Sire, at the very moment when Hillary was PROMISING to coerce the Catholic Church to endorse abortion, Bergoglio sent her a huge check from Peter’s Pence. This shows that, if Bergoglio had his way, the Catholic Church in the U.S., and everywhere, would be under the heel of the government, as it now is under the McCarrick-Bergoglio regime in Communist China.
The unconsciousness of the typical Catholic is nothing to rejoice about. It means they will sleep-walk into the ape church, the anti-church that Bergoglio is erecting.
With by our almighty God’s grace given prime talents to us, which are known as sensus fidelium et ratio, every of us, the true Catholics, should and must know that everyone who in fact is a true Catholic cannot be(come) in schism with one who is heretic and apostate. Already, for a long time.
So there cannot and shouldn’t be any talk in the so-called schism terminology. because the great accuser is the one who accuses the righteous with his lies for the purpose to blame them for exactly that what he is doing, and again, not just a schism, but much worse,- heresy and apostasy.
Is that man not the one about whom prophet Isaiah speaks:
“Vae qui dicitis malum bonum, et bonum malum; ponentes tenebras lucem, et lucem tenebras; ponentes amarum in dulce, et dulce in amarum!” (Is 5,20)
And further, when apostle saint Paul in his letter to Galatians says:
“Miror quod sic tam cito transferimini ab eo qui vos vocavit in gratiam Christi in aliud Evangelium: quod non est aliud, nisi sunt aliqui qui vos conturbant, et volunt convertere Evangelium Christi.
Sed licet nos aut angelus de caelo evangelizet vobis praeterquam quod evangelizavimus vobis, anathema sit.
Sicut praediximus, et nunc iterum dico : si quis vobis evangelizaverit praeter id quod accepistis, anathema sit.” (Gal 1,6-9)
I am attempting to ignore possible entries in a “caption contest” for the photo of Bergoglio accompanying this article and not succeeding.
I agree with Fr. Stravinskas. Not only has Bergoglio made himself “irrelevant” like a constant stimulus no longer perceived , he has become less of an original song writer more like a DJ (no longer a bouncer) for the New World Order/NGO Church who doesn’t take “rigid” Catholic requests (like answers to the Dubbia or the OpenLetter).
He is also clueless that rather than “progressive” theology his set list is primarily the Greatest Hits of the Theological Seminary of the Seventies …”dated” vs Tradition.
And yes millennials and more and more Catholics of every age are opting out.
But let’s also admit that this “irrelevance” does indeed push forward the Agenda just like his imprecision.
Please note how much of this papacy is built on deprivations vs clarity and affirmations. Some might call that metaphysically “evil.” I’m one of those people.
After initial German giddiness (if there is such a thing) the greater proposed “relevance” of the Synodal mess will be seen for what it is: no reason for most people to even show up…and pay money.
The fact that the instrumentum laboris of the Amazon Synod has nothing to say about child abuse and infanticide says it all.
“His Forgetfulness of Argentina” is a smooth operator.
He has “The Mind of McCarrick.”
Every word, and every silence, every act and every omission, functions to attack “the communion of faith” and substitute “the communion of McCarrick,” where the only “currency” is the mutual esteem between apostate viceroys in the “McCarrick Establishment.”
Since we all know that “His Eminence” Cardinal Marx of Germany is part the dwindling “magic circle” of now 6 (?) “Cardinal Coordinators,” and we all know that “His Forgetfulness” is a shrewd and highly intelligent and well-informed man, we can be assured that “His Forgetfulness” is delighted with what “His Eminence” Marx is doing to the (Roman…does that have any residual meaning after these 50 years?) Catholic Church.
But not to worry: the chair of theology at Fordham University (co-signers of McCarrick’s Land of Lakes “manifesto” in 1967) is a non-Catholic man who lives in sodomy publicly “married” to another man.
Everything is “progressing” as intended by the “McCarrick Establishment,” of which we all partake in “the communion of McCarrick,” under-the-hand of “His Forgetfulness of Argentina.”
The “relevancy” of Pope Francis is that he has invigorated liberal dioceses and parishes. With all due respect to the opinion of Father Stravinskas this Francisco-energy in my own diocese has stifled the opportunities and good morale of several orthodox priests. Some of our best clergy have sought assignments outside of our diocese and have been “allowed” to pursue these assignments (only after they have been kept down from pastoral and preistly roles within) as a subtle way of purging the diocese of so-called rebels. Everything from youth formation to pastoral planning has taken on the flavor of Francis. Without ever knowing of it, Father Stravinskas would never be welcome to speak at one of our new diocesan conferences, so how could he possibly glean the Francis effect in such a locale.
Pope Francis and the rest of the “McCarrick Establishment” are doing a good job at making the Church irrelevant, while living like kings and viceroys.
The term Pseudo-Schismatic” is incoherent monkeytwaddle that makes as much sense as being half pregnant.