This article reads like an apologetic and almost like an obituary. It is kind of fascinating that this is occurring. Perhaps Pope Francis is being worn down by criticism by high prelates like the dubia cardinals, and other bishops, maybe one or two completely off the rails. But I suspect too, there are those bringing their concerns to the pope privately and respectfully, but directly. The latter seems to me to be the best process rather than an ugly public spectacle.
As I read this rather lengthy apologetic by Pope Francis’ closest Jesuit advisor, I think I get a sense of what the main problem of governance with this pope is. He is a Jesuit, imposing on the Church which is not Jesuitical a Jesuit spirituality and way of doing things, but conditioned by a post-Vatican II expression of “Jesuitness” that is not what it was prior to the Council.
The Catholic Church is comprised of many spiritualities and religious orders but primarily secular clergy not religious order ones. Thus the papacy must transcend one particular order, form of spirituality and discernment as well as any secular expressions of the clergy and laity, secular not being used in a negative way here. I am a secular priest, not a religious order priest.
Also, religious orders in the post Vatican II era, especially in its immediate aftermath, made the process of arriving at discernment and decisions that led to certain reforms sacrosanct. It was the process of arriving at a prayerful decision discerned in prayer that was more important than the decision made, such as wearing no habits, expanding ministries, become social justice warriors, relaxing rules and allowing an individualistic approach to religious life rather than a communal one—all of which has led to the destruction of some of the most stable and successful men and women’s religious orders prior to Vatican II. Do we really need more of this?
Read the full article below HERE.
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As I read this rather lengthy apologetic by Pope Francis’ closest Jesuit advisor, I think I get a sense of what the main problem of governance with this pope is. He is a Jesuit, imposing on the Church which is not Jesuitical a Jesuit spirituality and way of doing things, but conditioned by a post-Vatican II expression of “Jesuitness” that is not what it was prior to the Council.
The Catholic Church is comprised of many spiritualities and religious orders but primarily secular clergy not religious order ones. Thus the papacy must transcend one particular order, form of spirituality and discernment as well as any secular expressions of the clergy and laity, secular not being used in a negative way here. I am a secular priest, not a religious order priest.
Also, religious orders in the post Vatican II era, especially in its immediate aftermath, made the process of arriving at discernment and decisions that led to certain reforms sacrosanct. It was the process of arriving at a prayerful decision discerned in prayer that was more important than the decision made, such as wearing no habits, expanding ministries, become social justice warriors, relaxing rules and allowing an individualistic approach to religious life rather than a communal one—all of which has led to the destruction of some of the most stable and successful men and women’s religious orders prior to Vatican II. Do we really need more of this?
Read the full article below HERE.
Francis’ Government: What is the driving force of his pontificate?
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After seven years of this pontificate, what is its driving force? Some commentators and analysts have wondered if Francis’ drive still exists; others have tried to reflect on its substance. The question could be re-phrased as follows: What kind of government does Francis exercise, and how do we interpret it in the light of these seven years? I intend to address this question here, examining the meaning of his way of governing, which comes from his personality, his own life and formation.[1
12 comments:
Bishop Strickland just endorsed one of his priest’s statement that you cannot be Catholic if you vote Democrat. I am fairly certain the cowards in the USCCB will denounce the good bishop’s standing up for the Church and her teachings!
One word. MODERNISM
Pope Francis seems to want people to come to the right conclusions on their own. But he lets them travel a long way down the wrong path without much guidance. That seems to ignore the Four Last Things and maybe even presume on the Holy Spirit. I do not accuse the Holy Father of that last sin, but I do think his excessive and very uneven tolerance could others in that direction.
The meantioned "spirituality" and "mysticism" are only used by the writer, as manners of intellectual classification, pandemic among Jesuits in particular, but also the Church in general.
As someone who attended Jesuit Novitiate retreats in the late 70s/early 80s, including rigorous use of the Exercises, there is nothing mystic at all, but only mental/intellectual exercise.
At least, at that time, it was untainted at that particular place by modern "ecumenical" practice, but only a couple of years later under a new spiritual director, most of their retreats focused on Zen workshops and centering-prayer, both of which are also essentially the heresy of Quietism in man-powered shutting down of mind with stilling of mental activity, and reduce experiencing what they think as "God" into "Do X+Y, and abracadabra, G appears", turning it into a science experiment or conjuring, while in reality, them floating only in a calm nowhere, and then taking anything which appears in mind as of divine inspiration, rather than from self, or an even worse source.
Father, your preamble to the article was right on!
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Cardinal Sarah, Bishop Morlino (requiescat in pace), Archbishop Chaput...on and on...our holy Cardinals and bishops have praised Pope Francis as an effective defender and promoter of the Faith.
I think of Archbishop Chaput's declaration that "the holistic Catholic vision of human dignity that Francis serves, i.e., the reason why Catholic concerns for the unborn child, the disabled, the elderly, the environment, and the immigrant are inextricably linked in a network of priorities.”
The Archbishop praised Pope Francis'"concern for the environment, the poor, and immigrants...commitment to marriage, the family, and the complementarity of men and women.”
Cardinal Sarah declared that Pope Francis "openly and vigorously defends Church teaching on contraception, abortion, homosexuality, reproductive technologies, the education of children and much more."
My bishop has praised Pope Francis to the hilt.
I give thanks for the manner in which Pope Francis governs holy Mother Church.
He is a beloved Pope.
Among Pope Francis' most important qualities is the tremendous, powerful way in which he promotes the call to holiness.
I don't believe that a week has gone by during which he had failed to remind us that Satan is real...and that we need to avail ourselves to the Holy Sacrament of Penance.
In one powerful way after another, Pope Francis has lead us to Jesus Christ...the Good News.
Pope Francis is a great defender and teacher of the Faith. He is a holy and effective Governor of The Holy People of God.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Pope Francis is praising a terrorist:
https://pjmedia.com/culture/robert-spencer/2020/09/05/popes-new-encyclical-to-praise-jihad-terror-supporter-as-example-of-peace-and-fraternity-n896237
"You cannot be Catholic if you vote Democrat."
Oh really?
I guess then it would not be Ok to vote for the pro-life Democratic governor of Louisiana, john Bel Edwards?
Nor would it be ok to vote for the pro-life Democratic senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin.
But it would be OK to vote for Republican pro-choice senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. And I guess the Republican pro-choice governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker. Would have been fine too to vote for Bill Weld, the very pro-choice Republican governor of Massachusetts back in the 1990s. And Alan Simpson, the pro-choice U.S. Senator from Wyoming for decades.
Glad to be at a parish and a diocese where the clergy shy away from partisan politics and whom we should vote for.
Romulus Augustus here, if Strickland said that he is of course correct NO Roman Catholic can vote for Biden or Harris who is the most ant-Catholic vice presidential nominee in history!! These Democrats are not the one's of our parents or Grandparents these are avowed Marxist-Leninist's who hate this country, the family, law enforcement, the military, Christianity, and come November 3rd the choice is clear for all to see Trump and freedom or Biden-Harris and Communism. The Republican tent is huge and more and more African-Americans, Latino's, Asians, Democrats, Independents, and yes even gays's are realizing that the Democrats who suppport BLM and ANTIFA are bent on destroying this country come hell or high water!!!! VOTE TRUMP OR AMERICA IS DONE! Look at the Democrat run cities: Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, St.Louis ALL IN FLAMES AND BEING DESTROYED.
Off article but should concern everyone here, FoxNews.com has an article stating that the U.S. Navy is cancelling Catholic Masses at area bases in San Diego California yet Protestant services will continue and the U.S. Navy oddly confirms this. I find this highly disturbing and yes discriminatory. What the heck is going on in this country with so much ant-Catholicism happening since the riots from BLM and ANTIFA and now the U.S. Navy.
"I guess then it would not be Ok to vote for the pro-life Democratic governor of Louisiana, john Bel Edwards?
Nor would it be ok to vote for the pro-life Democratic senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin.
But it would be OK to vote for Republican pro-choice senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. And I guess the Republican pro-choice governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker. Would have been fine too to vote for Bill Weld, the very pro-choice Republican governor of Massachusetts back in the 1990s. And Alan Simpson, the pro-choice U.S. Senator from Wyoming for decades."
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Governor John Bel Edwards is truly pro-life, a rarity among Democrats.
If the persons that ran against Sens. Murkowski and Susan Collins were also "pro-choice", you could then consider their positions on other issues. It sometimes happens that way.
It is not enough for a politician to say or claim they are pro-life. What is their voting record? Was the person who ran against Senator Mancin also pro-life?
According to the National Right to Life Committee, Manchin has voted roughly 42 percent of the time in favor of pro-life policies since 2011. However, there were critical votes that Manchin opposed, such as the 2017 vote to defund Planned Parenthood.
Pro-Life just 42% of the time?
in April 2017, Manchin posed with Planned Parenthood supporters with their sign that stated, “I stand with Planned Parenthood.”
As Axios reported, Jonathan Kott, Manchin’s communications director, said any signs the senator holds in photographs “bear no relation to his policy positions.”
“The senator will vote to fund Planned Parenthood because the investigations showed no evidence that the organization was selling or profiting from fetal organs,” Kott reportedly said.
Huh?
"Catholic Masses at San Diego-area Navy bases have ended because the Navy, in what it says is a cost-cutting move, has declined to renew its contracts with Catholic priests, and there are not enough Catholic chaplains on active duty to fill the void. Protestant services on bases, which are led by active duty chaplains, will continue, said Brian O'Rourke, a Navy Region Southwest spokesman."
"We have a responsibility to use our limited resources wisely in meeting the needs of our personnel," wrote Lindsey. "Therefore, we will reduce redundancies and capture efficiencies by realigning resources," noting that religious services will be cut at bases where those services are readily available in the surrounding community outside the base."
There are eight catholic churches w/i a 15 minute drive from the San Diego Naval Base.
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