Far be it from me to say I told you so, but this confirms my own interpretation of that LaStampa piece written by Andrea Tornelli and posted on this thread by David. It was nothing more than a load of spin attempting to portray Pope Benedict as a cheerleader for the Pope Francis reforms. At this rate, LaStampa will be pushing NCR off the top spot for the fish wrap award. Worse, it shows that there are people in the Vatican who haven't the grace or common decency to leave the 90 year old Pope Emeritus in peace. His brother said last October that he is finding it more difficult to read, yet they sent him a set of books and expected him to read them and respond with some kind of imprimatur. Imagine someone of Pope Benedict's intellect having to plough through eleven books based on some of the weird pronouncements of Pope Francis. No wonder he let that chalice pass him by. As a matter of interest, does Pope Francis ever write anything himself? Laudate Si was written by non-Catholics like Jeffrey Sachs with some input from the likes of Archbishop (Heal me with your Mouth) Fernandez. Archbishop Fernandez also wrote Amoris Laetitia. Now we have "different authors" writing eleven booklets on the "theology of Pope Francis". Is Pope Francis capable of using pen and ink to express coherently what he learned from that "theological and philosophical" formation or are we Catholics in a situation where we need to ask will the real Pope please stand up so we can find out who, precisely, is the brains behind this demolition job on the Deposit of Faith?
It is a very sad state when someone of Pope Benedict's stature has his words cleverly "edited" in an attempt to bolster the subversion that is happening in the Church. God does not use "tricks". He does not use subterfuge and deception to get his message out. If you want to know whose game plan this is following then look at who the inventor of subterfuge and deception is.
Just a thought I have been having lately. What is happening in the Church now is in some sense similar to an abusive relationship. I am not making light of anyone who is or has been in such a situation. I have known several people who have and I understand how horribly mentally destructive it can become. One key element however is that the abuser often lies, confabulates and attempts to confuse the abused victim with circular logic. The victim becomes "used" to being manipulated in some way and eventually loses sight of the fact that they are being abused as the abuse gets worse and worse. In fact often the abuser makes the victim believe it is their fault they are being abused. In some sense this bears similarities with what is happening now. Those in the Vatican who are promoting this un-Catholic agenda are twisting the Church's teachings and making the abused faithful feel as if they are the ones in the wrong. They are using their intellects, skills, and offices to mentally abuse those who follow what the Church has always taught. As with all abuse it started out slowly and in hidden ways until we got used to it. Then it slowly increased until now it is out in plain sight. We the abused faithful are becoming "numb" as the abuse is growing in strength and audacity. Can anyone even remember what a "normal" pontificate is like now? What it is like to live in a unified Church where we all believe the same truths all Catholics of every age have believed? Can you remember a time when cronies in the Vatican weren't sending out truly crazy messages daily? When you weren't called names and attacked by the leaders of your own Church? Yes this is an abuse of the faithful. There is no longer any question in my mind. And as a group I think we may all begin to suffer the effects of this abuse. The only answer I see is Our Lord in The Eucharist, The Blessed Mother, The Rosary, Humility and Prayer.
This is insightful. I would say of all sins child abuse is totally diabolical. The present confusion in the Church is totally diabolical. Which is why I have had very dark thoughts about the Vatican which I have not shared on the Forum. People are not quite ready to hear certain things at the moment. No good handing folks more than they can handle. But these things are the work of Lucifer himself, not lower level demons..
Sorry folks, the full letter provides a little more information on why it was written and the unsurprising news that Benedict had not read the books. But that is why he wrote the letter instead of an introduction to the books! God certainly does not use tricks but man does. And those who reject Francis use plenty of them. The presentation of the letter by Monsignor Vigano was perfectly straightforward and accurate. Benedict's words remain as originally reported and reflect total support for Pope Francis. Let me post again the relevant words of support: I applaud this initiative which is intended to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice according to which Pope Francis would be only a practical man devoid of particular theological or philosophical formation, while I would be solely a theoretician of theology who could understand little of the concrete life of a Christian today. The little volumes demonstrate, rightly so, that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation, and they therefore help in seeing the interior continuity between the two pontificates, albeit with all the differences of style and temperament.
This is a partial quote, David. You knew this when you posted it. It distorts the message. This is willfully very dishonest. I am surprised at you. You are grossly and intentionally misleading people in this. Perhaps an apology is in order?
It was certainly a partial quote and I stated it to be so - "Let me post again the relevant words of support" I am quite happy to post the whole letter, highlighting the part which supports Pope Francis: I thank you for your courteous letter of January 12 and for the attached gift of the eleven small volumes edited by Roberto Repole. I applaud this initiative which is intended to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice according to which Pope Francis would be only a practical man devoid of particular theological or philosophical formation, while I would be solely a theoretician of theology who could understand little of the concrete life of a Christian today. The little volumes demonstrate, rightly so, that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation, and they therefore help in seeing the interior continuity between the two pontificates, albeit with all the differences of style and temperament. Nonetheless, I do not feel that I can write a brief and dense theological page about them because for my whole life it has always been clear that I would write and express myself only on books that I had also truly read. Unfortunately, even if only for physical reasons, I am not able to read the eleven little volumes in the near future, all the more so in that I am under other obligations to which I have already agreed. I am sure that you will understand, and I extend to you my cordial greeting. Yours, Benedict XVI Benedict's final paragraph simply explains why he felt unable to write a full introduction to the books.
Perhaps an exit from MOG is in order since instead of apologizing he’s obviously doubled down on his willful dishonesty? We’re way beyond the point where this kind of willful dishonesty should be routinely posted then explained away as if it was without consequence to MOG members and lurkers souls.
I will take this David as meaning you are grossly misleading yourself rather than us. I am being very charitable in doing so. Nevertheless I hope there is no repeat of this performance..
In the times we are living, always trust your first, gut impression. This corresponds to my initial gut impression regarding the Vatican spin. We have to cease confusing “charity” with a credulous naïveté: http://marklambert.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/benedict-xvi-letter-fake.html?m=1 Benedict XVI Letter Fake News/Selectively Quoted & Spun by Vatican! March 14, 2018 Mons. Vigano at the presentation to the press of the series "Theology of Pope Francis" photo: Settimo Ceilo So yesterday's weird story about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writing to the prefect for secretariat for communications, Mons. Dario Edoardo Viganò stating his pontificate and that of Pope Francis have an "interior continuity," albeit with "differences in style and temperament" has rapidly fallen into complete disarray, as is unfortunately becoming so common with this pontificate. Key to developments is the fact that Vatican News only publish a couple of lines of the full letter. This has turned out to be very selective quoting as everyone has rapidly discovered as soon as the full text of the letter has been released. In short, it seems to me that what has gone on is quite clear. On 12th January, mons. Viganò sends Benedict XVI a series of booklets written by various theologians who have attempted to offer an appologia for Pope Francis "paradigm shift" of accompaniment and discernment. It would appear that in the accompanying letter, Viganò has articulated somehow that he intends to use the Pope Emeritus to thwart those who judge Bergoglio's "theology" inferior to that of Ratzinger. Benedict replies on February 7th, giving a little smile at the beginning, a slight doff of the cap if you like, but not in any way defending the theology of Bergoglio, rather only in compliance with the fact that "it is foolish" to compare the two. And then the icing on the cake: Viganò must have asked him to make a PREFACE to the operetta and here Ratzinger tells him NO! first because he did not read them, second because he took other commitments. The Italians are all over this. Under the headline "The Half Fake News on Benedict and Bergoglio, Someone in the Vatican Has Said: Enough!" Vaticanista Marco Tosaati notes: The minimum professional correctness requires that if you publish a document, publish it in full. But this has not happened either on the website of the Holy See Press Office, nor, as we have seen, on Vatican News.Tosatti correctly asserts that the portal published the first two paragraphs of the message, but omitted the third one, which begins with "However ..." and says that Benedict has NOT read the eleven volumes, he does not intend to read them or write them down. And that consequently empties the kind sentences of the previous paragraphs, and the attempt to credit the endorsement. he closes his piece by asserting that this exercise is, in reality, the epitome of fake news and quoting Mons. Dario Edoardo Viganò himself: "Fake news is one of the elements that poison relationships. These are true-to-life news, but in fact unfounded, partial, when not even false. In fake news, the problem is not the non-truthfulness, which is very evident, but the verisimilitude"Sandro Magister who acquired the full text first, explains that the letter pertains to a series called "Theology of Pope Francis", published by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana and comprising eleven pamphlets, by various authors, on various aspects of written and oral teaching current pontiff. Magister points out that the specific quoting as well as the very particular timing of the release of said quotes, shows beyond doubt that this is an attempt to try and manipulate public opinion of Pope Francis. Moreover, Magister asserts the Pope Emeritus' true meaning is clear to anyone who bothers to read the full text of the latter. Even legendary papal tailgaters like Massimo Faggioli are dismayed at how badly this has been handled by the press office: View attachment 7537
The attempt to manipulate and mislead is obvious. It is lying, only in a more subtle form (and therefore more dangerous). Sad to see that the same approach is attempted by some here on our little forum. Since we celebrated the feast of St Thomas Aquinas on March 7, here´s a little delightful story some may be familiar with: It seems that St. Thomas was often so rapt in contemplation of higher things that he seemed unfocused on the world around him. In an effort to shake him out of his reverie one time, his fellow monks, laughing and smirking amongst themselves, cried, “Look! Out the window! There is a flying cow!” Well, St. Thomas startled, got up from his chair and went to the window to look -- which made the tricksters all burst into laughter. But, St. Thomas stopped that mid-chuckle when he instantly replied, “I would rather believe in a flying cow than a lying monk!”
Three Bishops Are Members of Chinese National People’s Congress There were three bishops among the delegates of the 13th Chinese National People's Congress that on 11 March took the decision to allow an infinite term of office for the Chinese president, according to AsiaNews (March 13). The first was Joseph Huang Bingzhang, the government-appointed bishop of Shantou who was officially excommunicated in 2011. Nevertheless, the Vatican tried twice to remove the legitimate bishop of Shantou, Monsignor Zhuang Jianjian, in order to replace him with Huang. The second was the illegitimately ordained Bishop Guo Jincai of Chengde. The Vatican said at that time that a Chengde diocese did not exist. Guo is the secretary general of the government-controlled bishops’ conference. The third is bishop Fang Jianping. He was illegitimately ordained and, although he did not show any remorse, later pardoned by the Vatican. After the pardon he participated in three illicit episcopal ordinations. Last week Fang said that “citizenship should come before a religion and belief.” Picture: Xi Jinping, © kremlin.ru, CC BY, #newsDzmvhemxxf
Brilliant Praetorian. Excellent diagnosis of what I'd going on. It is being done in the secular world too through MSM and leftists and it is being done to faithful catholics as well. It is a kind of shadow play with continuous guilting and name calling and false narratives. It is meant to cow and confuse and control. Absolutely. It is a great comfort to know that Our Lady warned us ahead of time. We have the Eucharist and the Rosary. That is the narrow path. That is the safest path. The only path.
Yes. Frightening but I do believe God will unmask all of it. I remember Malachi Martin warning of this Luciferian stranglehold on the Church. He said then that their goal was to control the Papacy. That was the prize they were after. He said: "they don't have it yet..." But it feels now a bit like the endgame doesn't it? I am chary of political leaders including our current US president. It appears he is undoing much evil in Washington but I get this sick feeling sometimes that it is all kabuki theater---all mimed for our benefit. I hope I am wrong. But if all that is promised through alt-news come true I think it will run straight through the Vatican and it will sear the hearts of all Catholics to see it in its raw ugliness. "Weep not for Me but for your children. For if they do this in the greenwood what will they do in the dry?"
FYI, just learned a new film is coming up (May 18) about Pope Francis, by Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, the Salt of the Earth, Paris Texas, etc)
Jarg, Well, that title may be accurate, his word vs. God's word? It is interesting that it is being released on May 18th since 18 is significant in regards to Our Lady of Garabandal.
I would be careful of this film, Wing Wenders the guy who made the film appears an odd character to say the least. It is a bit like having a film praising a Pope made by Joe Stalin
