Agree 100% - there is something seriously wrong with Catholic initiation when someone like T Blair can become a Catholic. There is also very little difference between Catholic politicians and athiest/secular politicians. There are only a few exceptions - I am a big fan of Ann Widecombe who converted to the Catholic Church I left the Church of England because there was a huge bundle of straw. The ordination of women was the last straw, but it was only one of many. For years I had been disillusioned by the Church of England's compromising on everything. The Catholic Church doesn't care if something is unpopular. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Widdecombe#Religious_views
Not to beat a dead horse on the TLM issue, BUT... Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican mentioned with concern Pope Francis' purported lack of support for the TLM in his e-mail newsletter on 3/14/13. Today, he offered a correction of sorts, and included a letter that he received from a trusted source regarding the issue. I hope this sets those of you who are concerned about our new Pope at ease.
The Pope paid his hotel bill and carried his own bags out, you gotta love this guy ! http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-francis-is-this-seat-taken-english-9435.html#.UUM_hDbD-Uk "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.. (Matthew 23:12) He inspires me to want to be humble ( man is that gonna be a rough road for me to follow,lol )
Some thoughts from Traditionalist's Blog! Traditionalists and Pope Francis: Can We Take a Deep Breath and Please Calm Down? room.http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/03/traditionalists-and-pope-francis-can-we.html
http://www.johnthavis.com/pope-francis-first-24-hours-doing-it-his-way Taking a line from Frank Sinatra, " I did it my way ".
There is a great sign of hope for our beautiful Church with the election of our new pope. All of us should stop the nonsense of our own beliefs, negative comments or disagreements and join together always in prayer for pope francis. Lets trust God in His Divine Wisdom and believe that our pope is going to carry us through these dark times as we hold onto the prophetic Word of God that "the gates of hell will not prevail."
Pope John Paul’s example inspired Pope Francis to pray Rosary daily http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=17311
Long live the pope! We need to remember that when they say one of the popes will be the anti pope this actually means that he is not a true pope. This could come about with this one as he goes into hiding or the government remove him and put in one of their own... This actually happened in France during the revolution.
Yes, and I think we are still feeling the repercussions from the French Revolution with all it's anti clericism
No reflection on the election of Pope Francis, but how can your statement be reconciled with the valid elections of the notorious Borgia Popes or the election of Pope John Paul I ? Did the Holy Spirit intend to inflict the Borgias on the Church or were the electors ignoring the Holy Spirit? Cardinal Ratzinger mentioned the matter many times, including in a famous answer in a Bavarian TV interview. Does the Holy Spirit elect the Pope? [Card. Ratzinger:] "I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope…I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined. There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-francis-blesses-pregnant-woman-during-visit-to-rome-basilica Pope Francis blesses pregnant woman.
I have to agree with this. The Holy Spirit does not take away from free will. It is when we open ourselves up to the Divine Will that we are guided to make the right choices.
