In a personal letter sent to Fr. James Martin SJ dated June 21, Pope Francis expressed support for his controversial ministry and encouraged him to “continue this way.”
The letter, handwritten in Spanish, was a note of thanks for pictures Fr. Martin had sent to the pope, and was first reported in Italian by Vatican News before being shared by Fr. Martin on his Twitter account; Fr. Martin included an unofficial translation of the letter into English.
According to Fr. Martin’s Twitter account, “the photos that he [Pope Francis] mentions are of my nephew’s Confirmation Mass last weekend. He [Fr. Martin’s nephew] also wore socks with Francis’s image on them.”
The Pope thanked Fr. Martin for the letter, and said that the picture of the socks “made me laugh.”
However, Pope Francis dedicated most of his letter to Fr. Martin’s postscript. In his Twitter account, the author of “Building a Bridge” explained that “the ‘PS’ (PD in Spanish) that the Pope refers to was a reminder about the LGBTQ Catholic Ministry conference,” which took place on Saturday, June 26th.
“I want to thank you for your pastoral zeal and your ability to be close to people, with the closeness that Jesus had, and which reflects the closeness of God,” Pope Francis wrote in his personal letter. “God’s ‘style’ has three elements: closeness, compassion and tenderness. This is how he comes closer to each one of us,” the Pope also said.
The pontiff added: “Thinking about your pastoral work, I see that you are continually seeking to imitate this style of God. You are a priest for all, just as God is a Father for all.” In place of the word “all,” Pope Francis used the unusual “todos y todas,” male and female pronouns that are repetitive in Spanish language, unless he meant to make a gender-inclusive point.
Fr. Martin translated the phrase as “men and women” in his English version of the letter, which he claims “was prepared by several people, including an Argentine friend.”
In his letter, Pope Francis continued: “I pray for you to continue this way, being close, compassionate and with great tenderness.”
“And I pray for your faithful, your ‘flock’ and all those whom the Lord places in your care, so that you protect them, and make them grow in the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” he wrote.
“…[M]ay the Holy Father’s warm message encourage and inspire all those in the church who minister to LGBTQ Catholics and, moreover, remind LGBTQ people everywhere in the world of God’s ‘closeness, compassion and tenderness,’” Fr. Martin stated in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Fr. Martin’s ministry has become increasingly controversial because of his incremental departure from Catholic doctrine.
In 2017, after he published “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity,” Fr. Martin claimed in a Washington Post article that “as I was writing the book, I knew that it would be a somewhat controversial topic, even though I was careful to stay well within the bounds of Church teaching.”
“My reflections, which can be summarized as a call for respect on both sides, were based on the gospel, and on the Catechism’s call for the Church to treat ‘homosexual persons’ with ‘respect, compassion and sensitivity’,” he wrote.
However, on May 30 of this year, commenting on the Catholic wedding of British prime minister Boris Johnson, Fr. Martin lamented that same-sex couples could not have access to the sacrament of marriage. Regarding the marriage in the Church of the twice-divorced Johnson to his girlfriend who was pregnant with their child, Martin wished “that the same mercy and compassion that was offered” to Johnson and his bride, “recognizing their complex lives, could also be extended to same-sex couples who are lifelong Catholics.”
The LGBTQ Outreach conference Fr. Martin mentioned to Pope Francis was organized by New Ways Ministries, which has been explicitly declared as a non-Catholic ministry by the U.S. bishops.
The event featured New Ways Ministries co-founder Sr. Jeannine Gramick as the keynote speaker, and featured the documentary “Building a Bridge” which portrays Fr. Martin as a groundbreaking pastoral hero. The documentary was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival (June 9-20.) Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is listed as an executive producer of the documentary.
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Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA
CNA Staff, Mar 13, 2024 / 12:00 pm (CNA).
March 13 marks the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 266th 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
March 29-April 1 — Pope Francis is hospitalized for a respiratory infection. During his stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, he visits the pediatric cancer ward and baptizes a newborn baby.
April 5 — The pope appears in the Disney documentary “The Pope: Answers,” which is in Spanish, answering six “hot-button” issues from members of Gen Z from various backgrounds. The group discusses immigration, depression, abortion, clergy sexual and psychological abuse, transgenderism, pornography, and loss of faith.
April 28-30 — Pope Francis visits Hungary to meet with government officials, civil society members, bishops, priests, seminarians, Jesuits, consecrated men and women, and pastoral workers. He celebrates Mass on the final day of the trip in Kossuth Lajos Square.
June 7 — The Vatican announces that Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery that afternoon under general anesthesia due to a hernia that is causing painful, recurring, and worsening symptoms. In his general audience that morning before the surgery, Francis says he intends to publish an apostolic letter on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “patroness of the missions,” to mark the 150th anniversary of her birth.
June 15 — After successful surgery and a week of recovery, Pope Francis is released from Gemelli Hospital.
Aug. 2-6 — Pope Francis travels to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day 2023, taking place from Aug. 1-6. He meets with Church and civil leaders ahead of presiding at the welcoming Mass and Stations of the Cross. He also hears the confessions of several pilgrims. On Aug. 5, he visits the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, where he prays the rosary with young people with disabilities. That evening he presides over the vigil and on Sunday, Aug. 6, he celebrates the closing Mass, where he urges the 1.5 million young people present to “be not afraid,” echoing the words of the founder of World Youth Days, St. John Paul II.
Aug. 31-Sept. 4 — Pope Francis travels to Mongolia, the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country. The trip makes Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile border with China, its most significant economic partner. Mongolia has a population of about 1,300 Catholics in a country of more than 3 million people.
Sept. 22-23 — On a two-day trip to Marseille, France, Pope Francis meets with local civil and religious leaders and participates in the Mediterranean Encounter, a gathering of some 120 young people of various creeds with bishops from 30 countries.
Oct. 4-29 — The Vatican hosts the first of two monthlong global assemblies of the Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021 to enhance the communion, participation, and mission of the Church. Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of the synod at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29. The second and final global assembly will take place at the Vatican in October 2024.
Nov. 25 — Pope Francis visits the hospital briefly for precautionary testing after coming down with the flu earlier in the day. Although he still participates in scheduled activities, other officials read his prepared remarks. The Vatican on Nov. 28 cancels the pope’s planned Dec. 1–3 trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate conference, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech, due to his illness.
Dec. 18 — The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which authorizes nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples and couples in “irregular situations.” Various bishops from around the world voice both support for and criticism of the document.
2024
Jan. 4 — Amid widespread backlash to Fiducia Supplicans, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, publishes a five-page press release that refers to Fiducia Supplicans as “perennial doctrine” and underlines that pastoral blessings of couples in irregular situations should not be “an endorsement of the life led by those who request them.”
Jan. 14 — Pope Francis for the first time responds publicly to questions about Fiducia Supplicans in an interview on an Italian television show. The pope underlines that “the Lord blesses everyone” and that a blessing is an invitation to enter into a conversation “to see what the road is that the Lord proposes to them.”
Feb. 11 — In a ceremony attended by Argentine president Javier Milei, Pope Francis canonizes María Antonia of St. Joseph — known affectionately in the pope’s home country as “Mama Antula” — in a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. The president and the former archbishop of Buenos Aires embrace after the ceremony. Pope Francis, who has not returned to his homeland since becoming pope in 2013, has said he wants to visit Argentina in the second half of this year.
Feb. 28 — After canceling audiences the previous Saturday and having an aide read his prepared remarks at his Wednesday audience due to a “mild flu,” Pope Francis visits the hospital for diagnostic tests but returns to the Vatican afterward.
March 2 — Despite having an aide read his speech “because of bronchitis,” the pope presides over the inauguration of the 95th Judicial Year of the Vatican City State and maintains a full schedule.
March 13 — Pope Francis celebrates 11 years as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Vatican City, Jul 13, 2021 / 07:35 am The Vatican said on Tuesday that Pope Francis is praying for the more than 60 people killed in a fire in a coronavirus isolation ward at a […]
Have we reached at last the point of where we are no longer required to give the benefit of the doubt to Francis? The evidence that has piled up over the last eight plus years is overwhelming. Perhaps even CNA will stop pretending otherwise.
Ihe Pontiff Francis (who orchestrated idolatry in Rome in 2019) and “Rev.” Martin want the world to know that they share the new pagan ethos that fornication and sodomy are, shall we say, “admissable.”
They are (to use a favorite “progressive-katholik” phrase) “culturally-bound” to the 1970s sex revolution.
St. Paul declared that Christians “have the mind of Christ.”
The Pontiff Francis and “Rev.” Martin have “the mind of McCarrick.”
What else is to be said about the “Black Pope?” He continues on his claim to fame of Globalist Social Justice Warrior completely ignoring as to the purpose of the white clothing bestowed to him. He continues to condone behavior opposite from the Doctrines and Dogmas of the Church solely for his personal self- assumption. The Bark of Peter is not in good hands.
We read from exploitative Martin his wish: “that the same mercy and compassion that was offered” to Johnson and his bride, “recognizing their complex lives, could also be extended to same-sex couples who are lifelong Catholics.”
Too bad Pope Francis lent himself, again, to truncated messaging. In a footnote, at least, he might also have recalled Cardinal Erdo’s opening message to the second session of the Synod of Families (2015). Or, in the “mind” of pampered wonder-boy Martin, is it that all synods are equal, but that some synods are more equal than others?
Cardinal Erdo: “In every case the Church teaches that ‘There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.’ Nevertheless, men and women with a homosexual tendency ought to be received with respect and sensitivity.’ Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 4, Instrumentum Laboris 130).
We are all called to compassion and love for every God-created person. That is Catholic Church teaching; however, James Martin denies Church teaching when he promotes same-sex “marriages.” There isn’t even an implied approval of this in the pope’s note to Martin, and Pope Francis has said that the Church cannot bless sin. Martin is using the pope to promote his ministry, which goes beyond the compassion and love for every God-created person to approval of sinful actions. The pope’s note doesn’t express approval, but Martin will continue to imply that it does. Be compassionate by loving the sinner, but don’t love the sin.
Yes, the Pontiff is very crafty. As is his mind, he makes short statements, such as “the Church cannot bless sin”, then he turns the other way and acts differently to those whose stance he favors. This Pontiff is incorrigible.
Roosevelt had a PLAN and so the present Pontiff.
I found a quote in Merriam/Webster that exactly describes his mind:
At the heart of Roosevelt’s style in foreign affairs was a certain incorrigible amateurism. His off-the-cuff improvisations, his airy tendency to throw out half-baked ideas, caused others to underrate his continuity of purpose …
— Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., American Heritage, May/June 1994
The Pope is not being crafty. He had expressly rejected the catholic blessing of same sex marriage. However we must love the sinner, but abhor the sin. That is the teaching of Christ,”those that are healthy have no need of physicians”. Pope Francis is a missionary priest who understand the sacrifice, and pains to witness Christ in the life of non, and non-true believers. First missionaries that came to Africa saw Practices by locals that should qualify them for he’ll fire following the doctrine. Practices that included killing of twins because of superstition, which in itself is worse than same-sex marriage going by doctrine. But they did not condemn them, but showed love, compassion, understanding, which brought them closer and enabled witnessing Christ to them. This was what activated their spiritual conscience that opened their hearts to embrace Christ. It wasn’t through proselytizing which is what Pope Francis preaches against, but which non missionaries are advocating. As the Pope has said, the communion should not become a political weapon,otherwise the religious, and professional theologians, will shed it of its transubstantiation, which will be spiritually devastating.
Also The Voluntary Assisted Dying bill before the Queensland Parliament, which is certain to become law, will force church-run aged care homes to allow euthanasia on their premises.
The Catholic Church Then may be on the verge of providing mortal sin as part of its social services business model.
How will the Church respond?
Accomodation
Still blabbering about LGBT continues to be a good distraction
This happened to a private Catholic hospice center in Canada recently. Because of the country’s euthenasia laws, the government eventually came in and took the place over in order to force the institution to provide assisted suicide services, despite the founder’s moral and spiritual objections. Quite scary, but like you said, LGBT issues are a convenient distraction from truly weighty matters of conscience.
Its a pity that Pope Francis who supports ministry to LGBT does not show the ‘same closeness, tenderness and compassion’ to those whom he considers ‘dissidents’. His harsh words to those who are orthodox, those whom he considers rigid, and those who may have a love for the Latin Mass are summarily dismissed as people to be avoided.Tragically for the world Pope Francis causes more and more confusion by the day.
—-‘same closeness, tenderness and compassion’ the words he likes to use to make himself seem “pastoral”. These words now have lost the original meaning, as he uses them selectively for, as you write, ‘dissidents’.
As was noted elsewhere the pontiff’s attitude, we might say if not policy is more embrace of homosexuality that intent to reform in accord with Apostolic tradition. That Francis assumes is rigid, not empathetic to concrete situations in life. That frequent demeaning of rigid observance of Catholic moral doctrine didn’t help in his encounter with Signor Sassoli European Parliament Pres when abortion was declared by Sassoli and co a medical right. Barely a word the rest of the conversation initiated by the Pope related to temporal issues poverty, migration. It certainly, that is the world’s spiritual leader’s ‘attitude’ has worldwide influence including our US government Biden as Pres promoting abortion extending it beyond prev limits. American Justice based on the rights of Man Constitutionally protected is under increasing transformation into an oppressive form of neo Marxism in which all opposition, criticism is considered treasonous liable to sanction. “WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) – A panel of judges suspended the state law license of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, citing his work representing former President Donald Trump’s contesting of the 2020 presidential election results”. Power play is influenced by world opinion, the Pontiff known for his distaste for former Pres Trump never once commending him for protecting religious rights, his anti abortion stance. That silence bordering on contempt speaks quite loudly to the malevolent in American politics and our justice system.
God is the creator of the human race. Does it follow that He is the Father of all? Is it not true that to be able to call God –“Our Father” — we must love Him? And to “love Him” means to do His Will, that is keep His Commandments. And keep all of what Jesus has taught since He and the Father are One. No one, be he Pope, or bishop or priest can change or water down any of His teachings. They have the grave obligation to teach what Jesus taught — “Repent and change your way of living.”
Would that James Martin’s outreach to the homosexual community be focused on the avoidance of sin, cultivated the abandonment of vice, acquiring virtue and fostered devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ, one could regard Pope Francis’ letter as edifying. But we know that James Martin’s outreach does not run in that current, but simply supports the secular materialist rationale which regards sexual intimacy between individuals of the same sex as well as same-sex marriage as a good, contradicting Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the perennial Magisterium.
James Martin promotes mortal sin. What in Pope Francis’ note allows me to regard him as not sharing in James Martin’s enterprise?
Last week I read at “Aleteia” that Pope Francis deceived his mother early in his academic career letting her believe he was studying for a career in medicine rather than pursuing one in the Church. He justified this deception by regarding himself as preparing to be a “doctor of souls.” I’ve always retained the memory of Archbishop Forte recalling how Pope Francis told him to be vague regarding communion for the divorced and remarried in “Amoris Laetitia” – “…not too directly or it will make a mess. We’ll clarify it later…”
Even were I to concur with Father Martin and Pope Francis, why ever would I trust them on any level, let alone for spiritual counsel?
Smooth operators?
Francis the Merciful, with his antics, routinely spits in the face of people with homosexual inclinations who struggle to live chastely, abandoned spouses (along with their children) who try to save their marriages, and Christians and others who suffer under repressive and terroristic Communist and Islamic regimes. Francis’ mercy is counterfeit.
“Is Pope Francis naive or just ill-informed?” It’s neither, unfortunately, and I think it might even be reasonable to infer a certain degree of malevolence in his “letter.” Truth, spoken with a deep, God-honoring integrity, is always clear and precise rather than vague and ambiguous. It calls people to repentance and faith. Francis’ consistent, unapologetic support of “Fr.” James Martin’s “ministry” is deeply problematic and disturbing, given that the Pope’s primary responsibility involves calling people to faithful obedience to God. Minimizing or ignoring human sinfulness under the pretense of compassion is not even remotely consistent with that calling.
About 5 years ago I was criticising a Priest, in very strong terms, suddenly an authoritative audible voice spoke and said to me “Do not criticise the Priests, that is my job” I was stopped in my tracks. Stunned. Believe me or not, it happened.
I had a similar experience, perhaps now as dramatic as yours, wherein I felt told, “Let ME worry about MY Church.” I still have my unsettling reservations, but try to keep them to myself.
As the great spiritual doctors of the Church indicate when speaking of extraordinary spiritual phenomena, that was not necessarily God. Fr. James Martin is a dangerous priest, and is undermining the faith and salvation of many. Everyone ought to be warned about him. It is even more urgent given that authorities are obstinately refusing to do so. I think the fallen spirits have a vested interest in keeping you quiet about this pressing danger. More souls are kept in the dark this way. There is absolutely zero harm in criticizing Fr. James Martin for his adulteration of the morals of the Church. You will gain merit for heaven.
How different we will see things on the other side of the grave.
More and more it is becoming very hard to give Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt regarding his support for Catholic orthodoxy. Doesn’t he realize that, as the successor of St. Peter, he is giving grave scandal to the faithful? It is very hard to believe that he is not aware of what he is doing.
‘ The men set out from Mamre , with Abraham accompanying them to show them the way ‘- The three angelic messengers , to Sodom that is about to be destroyed – above ironically in the Genesis account in today’s Holy Mass readings . Abraham very likely may not have discerned the full intent of their visit . Would he have known what was going on in the land that his nephew had chosen to settle in or was he too caught up in own grief of being childless as well as in the silent deep grief about the unknown fate of Ishmael and Hagar ..
Fr. Marin’s desire /intent for Catholic couples to have the same blessings given through The Church to the British Prime minister may be no less noble ; after all
The Church helped them / accompanied them , to undo what had to be undone , to have a true marriage that is in accordance with God’s Will and plan for marriage and family .
The Holy Father , praying and blessing Fr.Martin to carry his mission with Godly wisdom , to convey the message that Love as the grace and willingness to lead holy lives is not beyond the reach of any ..The Church is ever there to help and accompany persons to be set free from the depravities and the alienations , to be led to the richness and depth of loving and praising God, with all – all of creation , all His children , all holy angels and saints – as in a true marriage of the human will serving the Divine Will .. that could even lead to the shedding of blood as The Lord had foretold St.Peter ..
6/29 – Feasts of martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul – and the Holy Father too , a sort of martyr in more ways than one , even being ? misunderstood as the 266th Pope ; likely too that he was already aware of the possibility of the baggage of that # , even before being chosen .
In Thy Will, with Thy Love , we are sorrowful and ask pardon for every form of evil sinful thought and bestial pleasures ..
We trust that the prayers of Jesus – for His children to live in purity and holiness are to be fulfilled in many lives as intended by our good Fathers too .
Pope Francis was chosen by the Holy Spirit to take Peter’s place on earth leading Christ’s Church. There are many views that I don’t agree with but in the end I feel safer following Pope Francis, the Spirit’s chosen leader of our Church then those who attack him. God didn’t put me or anyone else, other than Francis in charge so I will listen and be respectful to all Francis statements, positions and sermons, even if sometimes it surprises me and yes often makes me rethink things. God protect Pope Francis and Holy Mother Church from all those who attack her from outside and inside the Church.
I’m not sure that such unquestioned loyalty honors Christ, although I can appreciate the sentiment. We have a responsibility to exercise a certain level of discernment when it comes to spiritual leadership and spiritual matters. While we should not be critical for the sake of simply being critical, we do have a responsibility to judge matters of faith, leadership, and morality carefully. It could be fairly said that people have given the church’s leadership the benefit of the doubt for far too long, resulting in terrible consequences for the Church’s global testimony and credibility. Holding leaders accountable for their words, deeds, and positions is a necessary task.
The Hoy Spirit did not “pick” Francis as Pope. Schemers and complacent ignoramuses put him on the Papal throne. May God protect the Church from Francis and his gang.
You bring to mind Pope Benedict’s comment regarding the working of the Holy Spirit in regard to papal conclaves. I believe it went “…the Holy Spirit always inspires but men don’t always listen.”
For fifty years we have faithfully followed the “safer path” but given where we find ourselves at this point we have to ask ourselves if the “safer path” was not simply the easier path. No one, not even a pope, can contradict the perennial Magisterium. James Martin’s enterprise boldly encourages sinful behavior and undermines consistent teaching of the Church regarding sexual morality. That Pope Francis’ letter to James Martin does not call him to order reveals the character of the man and the pontificate. There is nothing faithful, nothing safe, about that.
The Church knows and teaches that there have been bad Popes. There have been Popes who murdered other Popes to become Pope. Take Alexander VI.
The Popes of the tenth century are collectively called “the pornocracy.”
As Pope Benedict CVI quipped: “The Holy Spirit is always talking to the Church, but the Church is not always listening.”
There seem to be “other spirits” inspiring the Pontiff Francis. What spirit was it that inspired the Pontiff Francis to take a criminally negligent sex coverup artist, Cardinal Daneels of Belgium, and after he was retired in disgrace in 2010, restored him to power and influence in 2013? Daneels was exposed by the Belgian press for protecting the notorious sex predator Bishop Vangelhuwe, who raped his own little nephew, and tried to deny justice to the Vangelhuwe family, who were pleading with the Church to bring their own uncle to justice.
This after the former Cardinal Bergoglio spent millions of dollars defending the notorious sex abuser Rev. Grassi of Argentina, now serving 15 years in prison for sexually abusing children.
I am getting impatient with the Cardinals and Bishops. They have the power to dethrone Francis, the Modernist heretic. Are they such cowards that they will not do what is necessary to defend Christ’s Church?
Compassion is not the same thing as approval. That would apply to many sins which people attempt to justify or explain but that doesnt change the reality. The Pope would be wise to be clearer in this.
“Sins of impurity especially clergy and consecrated…You see this is a torture greater than my death.” (Saint Faustina diary 445) The words of Jesus Christ himself!!
Who is still defending this Antichrist Pope, who is defending our Lord Jesus Christ, make your choice.
When politics was previously about the domestic economy, patriotism, foreign policy, etc., today all politics has degenerated to identity politics – feminism, LGBT++++, environmentalism and transgenderism. Social discourse has become toxic due to the Cultural Marxists ‘Long March through the Institutions’. So sad to see the Church, at the highest levels, now further polarizing people of faith by reducing itself to identity issues. Truths that we knew to be certain up to yesterday are now questioned and undermined by Church figures who aught to know better if they have a brain or just ordinary common sense. ONly God can save us from the present madness.
The repentant fornicator, St. Augustine, I am told, said active Homosexual Relations is an abuse that should not be permitted. I think I will stay with teaching and not a teaching that “tickles the ear”.
Pope Francis hears grumbling about Fr. James Martin, SJ. So, he turns to his key advisors.
He starts with the Jesuit Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civiltà Cattolica, he of 2+2=5 theological fame, who tells Francis there is no problem with Martin who is doing God’s own work in building bridges to a marginalized community.
For the pope to speak solely of openness and compassion in such contexts almost inevitably will be perceived—rightly or wrongly—as a tacit approval of those seeking to change Church doctrine. And, when coupled with the September 2019 private audience that he granted to Fr. Martin, such approval might well seem to be more than tacit. This is a problem, to put it mildly.
Austin Ruse has an article on this letter in Crisis Magazine. Among other comments, he points out that the LGBT “community”, far from being marginalized, is one of the most influential [and wealthiest] “communities” in the world.
I do not rely on Ruse’s favoured sources of information but I think he is spot on on this hugely-overlooked point.
There is no “closeness, tenderness and compassion” in encouraging people to live a lifestyle that will lead them to eternal damnation. It is no coincidence that the demonstrations aimed at affirming the goodness of homosexual relationships are named after “pride”. Pride is Lucifer’s sin.
Father Martin and Pope Francis would do well to carefully consider the Four Last Things, for the people who look at them as to their leaders and for themselves.
They will know we are Christians by our love.
by our love of what or whom?
Some sorts of love are still illegal. And others condemned by scripture. I think we have to be careful in what we quote and how we apply it.
love or enabling, Gerry?
Gerald, we do not love when we allow, promote or bless mortal sin that kills the life of the Spirit in the soul of the sinner.
SSM “closeness” is sterile fornication and represents a thumb in the eye to the strivings to be chaste of the truly married husband and wife.
Have we reached at last the point of where we are no longer required to give the benefit of the doubt to Francis? The evidence that has piled up over the last eight plus years is overwhelming. Perhaps even CNA will stop pretending otherwise.
Ihe Pontiff Francis (who orchestrated idolatry in Rome in 2019) and “Rev.” Martin want the world to know that they share the new pagan ethos that fornication and sodomy are, shall we say, “admissable.”
They are (to use a favorite “progressive-katholik” phrase) “culturally-bound” to the 1970s sex revolution.
St. Paul declared that Christians “have the mind of Christ.”
The Pontiff Francis and “Rev.” Martin have “the mind of McCarrick.”
What else is to be said about the “Black Pope?” He continues on his claim to fame of Globalist Social Justice Warrior completely ignoring as to the purpose of the white clothing bestowed to him. He continues to condone behavior opposite from the Doctrines and Dogmas of the Church solely for his personal self- assumption. The Bark of Peter is not in good hands.
We read from exploitative Martin his wish: “that the same mercy and compassion that was offered” to Johnson and his bride, “recognizing their complex lives, could also be extended to same-sex couples who are lifelong Catholics.”
Too bad Pope Francis lent himself, again, to truncated messaging. In a footnote, at least, he might also have recalled Cardinal Erdo’s opening message to the second session of the Synod of Families (2015). Or, in the “mind” of pampered wonder-boy Martin, is it that all synods are equal, but that some synods are more equal than others?
Cardinal Erdo: “In every case the Church teaches that ‘There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.’ Nevertheless, men and women with a homosexual tendency ought to be received with respect and sensitivity.’ Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, 4, Instrumentum Laboris 130).
We are all called to compassion and love for every God-created person. That is Catholic Church teaching; however, James Martin denies Church teaching when he promotes same-sex “marriages.” There isn’t even an implied approval of this in the pope’s note to Martin, and Pope Francis has said that the Church cannot bless sin. Martin is using the pope to promote his ministry, which goes beyond the compassion and love for every God-created person to approval of sinful actions. The pope’s note doesn’t express approval, but Martin will continue to imply that it does. Be compassionate by loving the sinner, but don’t love the sin.
Yes, the Pontiff is very crafty. As is his mind, he makes short statements, such as “the Church cannot bless sin”, then he turns the other way and acts differently to those whose stance he favors. This Pontiff is incorrigible.
Roosevelt had a PLAN and so the present Pontiff.
I found a quote in Merriam/Webster that exactly describes his mind:
At the heart of Roosevelt’s style in foreign affairs was a certain incorrigible amateurism. His off-the-cuff improvisations, his airy tendency to throw out half-baked ideas, caused others to underrate his continuity of purpose …
— Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., American Heritage, May/June 1994
The Pope is not being crafty. He had expressly rejected the catholic blessing of same sex marriage. However we must love the sinner, but abhor the sin. That is the teaching of Christ,”those that are healthy have no need of physicians”. Pope Francis is a missionary priest who understand the sacrifice, and pains to witness Christ in the life of non, and non-true believers. First missionaries that came to Africa saw Practices by locals that should qualify them for he’ll fire following the doctrine. Practices that included killing of twins because of superstition, which in itself is worse than same-sex marriage going by doctrine. But they did not condemn them, but showed love, compassion, understanding, which brought them closer and enabled witnessing Christ to them. This was what activated their spiritual conscience that opened their hearts to embrace Christ. It wasn’t through proselytizing which is what Pope Francis preaches against, but which non missionaries are advocating. As the Pope has said, the communion should not become a political weapon,otherwise the religious, and professional theologians, will shed it of its transubstantiation, which will be spiritually devastating.
Also The Voluntary Assisted Dying bill before the Queensland Parliament, which is certain to become law, will force church-run aged care homes to allow euthanasia on their premises.
The Catholic Church Then may be on the verge of providing mortal sin as part of its social services business model.
How will the Church respond?
Accomodation
Still blabbering about LGBT continues to be a good distraction
This happened to a private Catholic hospice center in Canada recently. Because of the country’s euthenasia laws, the government eventually came in and took the place over in order to force the institution to provide assisted suicide services, despite the founder’s moral and spiritual objections. Quite scary, but like you said, LGBT issues are a convenient distraction from truly weighty matters of conscience.
Those both seem weighty matters to me.
Its a pity that Pope Francis who supports ministry to LGBT does not show the ‘same closeness, tenderness and compassion’ to those whom he considers ‘dissidents’. His harsh words to those who are orthodox, those whom he considers rigid, and those who may have a love for the Latin Mass are summarily dismissed as people to be avoided.Tragically for the world Pope Francis causes more and more confusion by the day.
—-‘same closeness, tenderness and compassion’ the words he likes to use to make himself seem “pastoral”. These words now have lost the original meaning, as he uses them selectively for, as you write, ‘dissidents’.
—-and gay used to mean happily excited, cheerful.
As was noted elsewhere the pontiff’s attitude, we might say if not policy is more embrace of homosexuality that intent to reform in accord with Apostolic tradition. That Francis assumes is rigid, not empathetic to concrete situations in life. That frequent demeaning of rigid observance of Catholic moral doctrine didn’t help in his encounter with Signor Sassoli European Parliament Pres when abortion was declared by Sassoli and co a medical right. Barely a word the rest of the conversation initiated by the Pope related to temporal issues poverty, migration. It certainly, that is the world’s spiritual leader’s ‘attitude’ has worldwide influence including our US government Biden as Pres promoting abortion extending it beyond prev limits. American Justice based on the rights of Man Constitutionally protected is under increasing transformation into an oppressive form of neo Marxism in which all opposition, criticism is considered treasonous liable to sanction. “WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) – A panel of judges suspended the state law license of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, citing his work representing former President Donald Trump’s contesting of the 2020 presidential election results”. Power play is influenced by world opinion, the Pontiff known for his distaste for former Pres Trump never once commending him for protecting religious rights, his anti abortion stance. That silence bordering on contempt speaks quite loudly to the malevolent in American politics and our justice system.
God is the creator of the human race. Does it follow that He is the Father of all? Is it not true that to be able to call God –“Our Father” — we must love Him? And to “love Him” means to do His Will, that is keep His Commandments. And keep all of what Jesus has taught since He and the Father are One. No one, be he Pope, or bishop or priest can change or water down any of His teachings. They have the grave obligation to teach what Jesus taught — “Repent and change your way of living.”
Would that James Martin’s outreach to the homosexual community be focused on the avoidance of sin, cultivated the abandonment of vice, acquiring virtue and fostered devotion to our Lord, Jesus Christ, one could regard Pope Francis’ letter as edifying. But we know that James Martin’s outreach does not run in that current, but simply supports the secular materialist rationale which regards sexual intimacy between individuals of the same sex as well as same-sex marriage as a good, contradicting Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the perennial Magisterium.
James Martin promotes mortal sin. What in Pope Francis’ note allows me to regard him as not sharing in James Martin’s enterprise?
Last week I read at “Aleteia” that Pope Francis deceived his mother early in his academic career letting her believe he was studying for a career in medicine rather than pursuing one in the Church. He justified this deception by regarding himself as preparing to be a “doctor of souls.” I’ve always retained the memory of Archbishop Forte recalling how Pope Francis told him to be vague regarding communion for the divorced and remarried in “Amoris Laetitia” – “…not too directly or it will make a mess. We’ll clarify it later…”
Even were I to concur with Father Martin and Pope Francis, why ever would I trust them on any level, let alone for spiritual counsel?
Smooth operators?
Is Pope Francis naive or just ill-informed?
Does he not yet realize how his every word will be manipulated to ends that may not be his?
Pope Francis neither naïve or ill-informed…he is undoubtedly calculated.
Francis the Merciful, with his antics, routinely spits in the face of people with homosexual inclinations who struggle to live chastely, abandoned spouses (along with their children) who try to save their marriages, and Christians and others who suffer under repressive and terroristic Communist and Islamic regimes. Francis’ mercy is counterfeit.
“Is Pope Francis naive or just ill-informed?” It’s neither, unfortunately, and I think it might even be reasonable to infer a certain degree of malevolence in his “letter.” Truth, spoken with a deep, God-honoring integrity, is always clear and precise rather than vague and ambiguous. It calls people to repentance and faith. Francis’ consistent, unapologetic support of “Fr.” James Martin’s “ministry” is deeply problematic and disturbing, given that the Pope’s primary responsibility involves calling people to faithful obedience to God. Minimizing or ignoring human sinfulness under the pretense of compassion is not even remotely consistent with that calling.
About 5 years ago I was criticising a Priest, in very strong terms, suddenly an authoritative audible voice spoke and said to me “Do not criticise the Priests, that is my job” I was stopped in my tracks. Stunned. Believe me or not, it happened.
Dear Kate,
I had a similar experience, perhaps now as dramatic as yours, wherein I felt told, “Let ME worry about MY Church.” I still have my unsettling reservations, but try to keep them to myself.
As the great spiritual doctors of the Church indicate when speaking of extraordinary spiritual phenomena, that was not necessarily God. Fr. James Martin is a dangerous priest, and is undermining the faith and salvation of many. Everyone ought to be warned about him. It is even more urgent given that authorities are obstinately refusing to do so. I think the fallen spirits have a vested interest in keeping you quiet about this pressing danger. More souls are kept in the dark this way. There is absolutely zero harm in criticizing Fr. James Martin for his adulteration of the morals of the Church. You will gain merit for heaven.
How different we will see things on the other side of the grave.
More and more it is becoming very hard to give Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt regarding his support for Catholic orthodoxy. Doesn’t he realize that, as the successor of St. Peter, he is giving grave scandal to the faithful? It is very hard to believe that he is not aware of what he is doing.
‘ The men set out from Mamre , with Abraham accompanying them to show them the way ‘- The three angelic messengers , to Sodom that is about to be destroyed – above ironically in the Genesis account in today’s Holy Mass readings . Abraham very likely may not have discerned the full intent of their visit . Would he have known what was going on in the land that his nephew had chosen to settle in or was he too caught up in own grief of being childless as well as in the silent deep grief about the unknown fate of Ishmael and Hagar ..
Fr. Marin’s desire /intent for Catholic couples to have the same blessings given through The Church to the British Prime minister may be no less noble ; after all
The Church helped them / accompanied them , to undo what had to be undone , to have a true marriage that is in accordance with God’s Will and plan for marriage and family .
The Holy Father , praying and blessing Fr.Martin to carry his mission with Godly wisdom , to convey the message that Love as the grace and willingness to lead holy lives is not beyond the reach of any ..The Church is ever there to help and accompany persons to be set free from the depravities and the alienations , to be led to the richness and depth of loving and praising God, with all – all of creation , all His children , all holy angels and saints – as in a true marriage of the human will serving the Divine Will .. that could even lead to the shedding of blood as The Lord had foretold St.Peter ..
6/29 – Feasts of martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul – and the Holy Father too , a sort of martyr in more ways than one , even being ? misunderstood as the 266th Pope ; likely too that he was already aware of the possibility of the baggage of that # , even before being chosen .
Yet , looking at the ( confusing ) list of Popes , could he even be the 270 th !-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes
In Thy Will, with Thy Love , we are sorrowful and ask pardon for every form of evil sinful thought and bestial pleasures ..
We trust that the prayers of Jesus – for His children to live in purity and holiness are to be fulfilled in many lives as intended by our good Fathers too .
Pope Francis was chosen by the Holy Spirit to take Peter’s place on earth leading Christ’s Church. There are many views that I don’t agree with but in the end I feel safer following Pope Francis, the Spirit’s chosen leader of our Church then those who attack him. God didn’t put me or anyone else, other than Francis in charge so I will listen and be respectful to all Francis statements, positions and sermons, even if sometimes it surprises me and yes often makes me rethink things. God protect Pope Francis and Holy Mother Church from all those who attack her from outside and inside the Church.
I’m not sure that such unquestioned loyalty honors Christ, although I can appreciate the sentiment. We have a responsibility to exercise a certain level of discernment when it comes to spiritual leadership and spiritual matters. While we should not be critical for the sake of simply being critical, we do have a responsibility to judge matters of faith, leadership, and morality carefully. It could be fairly said that people have given the church’s leadership the benefit of the doubt for far too long, resulting in terrible consequences for the Church’s global testimony and credibility. Holding leaders accountable for their words, deeds, and positions is a necessary task.
The Hoy Spirit did not “pick” Francis as Pope. Schemers and complacent ignoramuses put him on the Papal throne. May God protect the Church from Francis and his gang.
Did not the Holy Spirit also ‘pick’ the Borgias popes…so you would have felt just as supportive then as now?
Pope Francis was chosen by the Holy Spirit to take Peter’s place on earth leading Christ’s Church.
A myth perpetuated by the ignorant.
You bring to mind Pope Benedict’s comment regarding the working of the Holy Spirit in regard to papal conclaves. I believe it went “…the Holy Spirit always inspires but men don’t always listen.”
For fifty years we have faithfully followed the “safer path” but given where we find ourselves at this point we have to ask ourselves if the “safer path” was not simply the easier path. No one, not even a pope, can contradict the perennial Magisterium. James Martin’s enterprise boldly encourages sinful behavior and undermines consistent teaching of the Church regarding sexual morality. That Pope Francis’ letter to James Martin does not call him to order reveals the character of the man and the pontificate. There is nothing faithful, nothing safe, about that.
Ms. McDonald:
The Church does not teach that.
The Church knows and teaches that there have been bad Popes. There have been Popes who murdered other Popes to become Pope. Take Alexander VI.
The Popes of the tenth century are collectively called “the pornocracy.”
As Pope Benedict CVI quipped: “The Holy Spirit is always talking to the Church, but the Church is not always listening.”
There seem to be “other spirits” inspiring the Pontiff Francis. What spirit was it that inspired the Pontiff Francis to take a criminally negligent sex coverup artist, Cardinal Daneels of Belgium, and after he was retired in disgrace in 2010, restored him to power and influence in 2013? Daneels was exposed by the Belgian press for protecting the notorious sex predator Bishop Vangelhuwe, who raped his own little nephew, and tried to deny justice to the Vangelhuwe family, who were pleading with the Church to bring their own uncle to justice.
This after the former Cardinal Bergoglio spent millions of dollars defending the notorious sex abuser Rev. Grassi of Argentina, now serving 15 years in prison for sexually abusing children.
Some Pope are sent by God, others He tolerates, and others still He inflicts as punishment for our sins.
I am getting impatient with the Cardinals and Bishops. They have the power to dethrone Francis, the Modernist heretic. Are they such cowards that they will not do what is necessary to defend Christ’s Church?
Compassion is not the same thing as approval. That would apply to many sins which people attempt to justify or explain but that doesnt change the reality. The Pope would be wise to be clearer in this.
“Sins of impurity especially clergy and consecrated…You see this is a torture greater than my death.” (Saint Faustina diary 445) The words of Jesus Christ himself!!
Who is still defending this Antichrist Pope, who is defending our Lord Jesus Christ, make your choice.
Jorge Bergoglio and The Pied Piper of Sodomy, James Martin LGBTQWXYZSJ, are anathema.
This pope is no friend of the faithful in the US trying to live the gospel. Quite a shame.
When politics was previously about the domestic economy, patriotism, foreign policy, etc., today all politics has degenerated to identity politics – feminism, LGBT++++, environmentalism and transgenderism. Social discourse has become toxic due to the Cultural Marxists ‘Long March through the Institutions’. So sad to see the Church, at the highest levels, now further polarizing people of faith by reducing itself to identity issues. Truths that we knew to be certain up to yesterday are now questioned and undermined by Church figures who aught to know better if they have a brain or just ordinary common sense. ONly God can save us from the present madness.
So true.
The repentant fornicator, St. Augustine, I am told, said active Homosexual Relations is an abuse that should not be permitted. I think I will stay with teaching and not a teaching that “tickles the ear”.
Pope Francis is Wrong About Fr. James Martin, by Austin Ruse.
July 1, 2021
The article begins:
Pope Francis hears grumbling about Fr. James Martin, SJ. So, he turns to his key advisors.
He starts with the Jesuit Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civiltà Cattolica, he of 2+2=5 theological fame, who tells Francis there is no problem with Martin who is doing God’s own work in building bridges to a marginalized community.
Pope Francis Needs to Say “No”, by Christopher Ruddy.
July 1, 2021
Excerpt:
For the pope to speak solely of openness and compassion in such contexts almost inevitably will be perceived—rightly or wrongly—as a tacit approval of those seeking to change Church doctrine. And, when coupled with the September 2019 private audience that he granted to Fr. Martin, such approval might well seem to be more than tacit. This is a problem, to put it mildly.
These people are very careful.—Christopher Ruddy mentions ‘doctrinal silence’:
“One might respond that neither the pope nor Fr. Martin has denied any Church teaching.”
That’s the strategy —-when thought expressions are kept in flux mobility in any direction is easily achieve or a hovering mode can be maintained.
Catholics are entitled definition in expression of Church Doctrine.
Austin Ruse has an article on this letter in Crisis Magazine. Among other comments, he points out that the LGBT “community”, far from being marginalized, is one of the most influential [and wealthiest] “communities” in the world.
I do not rely on Ruse’s favoured sources of information but I think he is spot on on this hugely-overlooked point.
There is no “closeness, tenderness and compassion” in encouraging people to live a lifestyle that will lead them to eternal damnation. It is no coincidence that the demonstrations aimed at affirming the goodness of homosexual relationships are named after “pride”. Pride is Lucifer’s sin.
Father Martin and Pope Francis would do well to carefully consider the Four Last Things, for the people who look at them as to their leaders and for themselves.
It appears Francis and Martin have issued to Courage International a terrible slap in the face.