“Apostate Rome” as Archbishop Lefebvre called it, presently under the leadership of Generalissimo Bergoglio, is at war with the Catholic faith; this much is certain.
It is a war being fought on multiple battle fronts. When we focus too exclusively on one; we risk failing to notice how enemy forces are assembling on another.
Case in point: We’ve been paying so much attention to Francis’ in-flight assault on Catholic doctrine with respect to contraception, that many of us have overlooked what is perhaps even bigger news.
In mid-November, I suggested that Francis had tipped his hand regarding the upcoming post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation when he responded to a Lutheran woman’s question about “not being able to participate together in the Lord’s Supper” with her Catholic husband.
Yesterday, he confirmed it.
Please allow me to refresh your memory:
In response to this Lutheran woman, Francis began by misinforming her, saying “we have the same doctrines.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, he went on to imply that sacramental confession is no different than seeking God’s forgiveness on one’s own in the manner of the heretics:
When you feel sinful … you go before the Lord and ask for forgiveness. Your husband does the same and goes to the priest and asks for absolution; remedies to sustain the Baptism.
With regard to the upcoming post-synodal exhortation, the point is this:
If it is true, as Francis says, that one who seeks forgiveness outside of the confessional “does the same” as he who seeks absolution from a priest in the sacrament, what is to prevent a public adulterer or active homosexual from privately uttering words of pseudo-contrition on the way up to the Communion rail every Sunday?
The answer – nothing.
Francis concluded his response to the heretic lady who wishes to receive Holy Communion with her Catholic husband:
One baptism, one Lord, one faith. Talk to the Lord and go forward. I dare not say more.
It is obvious to all but the willfully blind that he was encouraging this woman who is not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion (she’s not even Catholic!) to take it up with the Lord directly; with the clear implication being that He just might tell her to receive!
Fast forward to yesterday’s aerial assault on the Catholic faith courtesy of Bombardier Bergoglio:
An American journalist, Ann Thompson of NBS News, asked, “Some wonder, how a Church that claims to be merciful, how can the Church forgive a murderer easier than someone who has divorced and remarried?”
Francis began by congratulating the reporter for her disrespectful posture and anti-Catholic bias (something they obviously share in common) saying, “The question is true, you posed it very well.”
He then made mention of “the post-synod document that will be published, perhaps before Easter.”
This, my friends, is a heads-up; he is letting us know that what follows is a glimpse into the document’s contents.
From there, not to be outdone in denigrating the Faith by a media member, Francis went on to say:
Imagine, to become a priest there are eight years of study and preparation, and then if after a while you can’t do it, you can ask for a dispensation, you leave, and everything is OK. On the other hand, to make a sacrament (marriage), which is for your whole life, three to four conferences…
Francis was setting the stage for a word or two about the importance of marriage prep. Fair enough, but notice what he considers to be the “givens.”
To him, the sacrament of Holy Orders and the resulting ontological configuration to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest can be easily dispensed with and then “everything is OK,” but marriage… well that’s supposed to be for life!
My God, my God, why have You foresaken us?
Getting to the heart of the matter, Francis tells the following tale (real or fiction is anyone’s guess):
There was a couple, married again in second union integrated in the pastoral ministry of the Church. The key phrase used by the synod, which I’ll take up again, is ‘integrate’ in the life of the Church the wounded families, remarried families, etc. But of this one mustn’t forget the children in the middle. They are the first victims, both in the wounds, and in the conditions of poverty, of work, etc.
Remember; the question he is answering concerns “someone who has divorced and remarried.” Those who hold the Catholic faith know that this simply isn’t possible.
Francis, on the other hand, has no problem speaking as if being “married again” is perfectly acceptable. In fact, as you’ll see, he does this several times during the exchange.
Thompson pressed: “Does that mean they can receive Communion?”
Now, pay close attention to the answer Francis gives:
This is the last thing. Integrating in the Church doesn’t mean receiving communion. I know married Catholics in a second union [LV: really?!] who go to church, who go to church once or twice a year and say I want communion, as if joining in Communion were an award. It’s a work towards integration, all doors are open, but we cannot say, ‘from here on they can have communion.’ This would be an injury also to marriage, to the couple, because it wouldn’t allow them to proceed on this path of integration.
We cannot say, ‘from here on they can have communion.’
There can be no doubt that the neo-conservative ostriches will trumpet this quote often over the next few days and weeks in a feeble attempt to make Francis appear faithful, but don’t you believe it.
Notice that he says of Communion for the adulterers, “This is the last thing.”
And how does the happily “remarried” couple arrive at the “last thing”?
Francis tells us as he proceeds to drop the following bomb:
And those two were happy. They used a very beautiful expression: we don’t receive Eucharistic communion, but we receive communion when we visit hospitals and in this and this and this. Their integration is that. If there is something more, the Lord will tell them, but it’s a path, a road.
So, how might we expect all of this to play out in the post-synodal exhortation?
First, since Francis obviously has no qualms with the idea of “married Catholics in a second union,” we can fully expect that no serious attention will be given to real remedies (annulment, validation of a so-called “second union,” confession, firm purpose of amendment, continence, etc.) much less the matter of adultery.
We might also expect some suggestion that forgiveness should be sought outside of the confessional.
Most importantly, we can well expect the document to throw open the doors of the Church to such couples, inviting them to take part in a fabricated and ill-defined process of “integration.”
How that process might be described therein is anyone’s guess, but I suspect that it will include a call to join the parish community in performing random acts of kindness, like “visits to hospitals and this and this and this,” to quote His Humbleness once more.
From there, the adulterous couple will be encouraged to do precisely what Francis instructed the Lutheran woman to do, “Talk to the Lord and go forward,” with the punchline being exactly what he told that snarky little American reporter:
If there is something more, the Lord will tell you…
In the most general sense, I think that we can expect the post-synodal document to amount to little more than this:
Church law says one thing, but go off in private to speak with the God of Surprises; He may just tell you something altogether different.
Makes perfect sense, really.
After all, the tension between authentic Catholic doctrine and the God of Surprises (aka Jorge the Horrendous) has been the overriding theme of this entire disastrous pontificate.
Why would anyone expect that to change now?
Yes, Louie, one very important thing you mentioned in the beginning of this article is that we get too focused on what’s blatently happening at this moment. That is, whatever bomb they are decisively choosing to drop on us at the moment. We have to remember that they are YEARS ahead of us and that they are pros at this. Hence, the reason why all this flies with us, the oblivious victims of the assaults on the Church. Many clueless souls will be lost as result of their evil tactics. Our Lord knows of their cunningly ways. This is why He gave us, His obedient, an anecdote: Fatima. Let us not get so wrapped up in their evil that we forget Our Lady’s instructions: Scapular, rosary, penance, lest we fall victim to their snares and clever traps.
Archbishop Lefebvre, Canada, 1977:
“… it’s a mystery, a mystery of iniquity, an extraordinary mystery. We live an unimaginable mystery. The devil has penetrated into the Church…”
“Seeing that, in the Council of Trent, the Church engages her infallible authority (in which the Pope, the bishops united, define the sacraments, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the priesthood), it is finished for all times. It is inscribed in heaven, it is inscribed in God. They are the words of God, words that are definitive. One does not change a dogma, something that is defined for all times.
Well then, we persist in these truths that are strong, as Almighty God Himself is strong. And that is why we can truly say, we have the future because we keep the past, because that has not changed. Our Lord has not changed, the Church has not changed, the sacraments have not changed, the Mass cannot change, our catechism cannot change. If we have that treasure that the Church has given to us, that Our Lord has given to us for the conversion of souls, for the salvation of our souls, and that he has given to us for two thousand years, then we can be sure that in doing what has been done for two thousand years, we will also have the future…”
“But where is the faith? In your catechism – it’s not difficult. Open your catechism, you have everything. The catechism is the way to heaven. It is your book that leads you to heaven. Take your Credo. You have the commandments of God and of the Church, you have the sacraments, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Christian virtues, the Our Father, the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. With that you have everything. There is no need of anything else. That is the résumé of Tradition, it is the résumé of revelation, it is the résumé of Tradition and of the Scriptures. It is that which the apostles have put into our hands and which the bishops from generation to generation have given us. We must cling to this and beware of all the rest.”
Louie, I read a lot of traditional aka Catholic blogs and articles. No one I’ve come across has been able to break down exactly what this pope is doing with such mental clarity as you have been doing. Thank you for using your gifts for the benefit of us all. I’m planning to add a few of my hard earned dollars to help your effort here on this site.
Can mental clarity be bottled and sent to the Vatican. Drink up. Bergoglio!!!
Isn’t it wonderful to read these consoling words “You have the commandments of God and of the Church, you have the sacraments, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Christian virtues, the Our Father, the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. With that you have everything. There is no need of anything else.”
Really if we hang on to the Rosary we don’t need anything else. Will it come to that when they take away the Mass, all the good books, priests, churches, any public display of devotion?
This onslaught is hard to take – day after day, week after week for three years…with no end in sight – and maybe Tagle next? Let’s think of each of us when we pray our Rosaries and we can have sort of an informal Rosary Crusade from akaCatholic.
Francis: “But of this one mustn’t forget the children in the middle. They are the first victims, both in the wounds, and in the conditions of poverty, of work, etc.” He should come out here to California, where almost every Catholic is divorced/annulled, some several times, which wrecks the children for life. The annulments let them receive the sacraments. If you’re lucky, maybe once every five years you’ll get a sermon against divorce/abortion/contraception, probably because the priest then quickly is purged by the bishop.
Well said, david96343. I read those blogs, also, and agree that Louie’s work is a cut above the others.
And now it seems that there are those “traditionalists” who are criticizing Louie for speaking Catholic truth. Some of you may have missed PioNono’s comment on this post of Louie’s:
https://akacatholic.com/justice-scalia-a-man-of-true-faith-and-allegiance/
PioNono’s comment is one of the last on that post. On 2/19/16, he said,
“A guy named Steve Skojek (an Americanist) who runs the borderline traditional blog 1 Peter 5 blasted Louie for this post on FaceBook the other day, and Michael Matt actually agreed with him. He even said that what Louie wrote here as bad as what Fr. Paul Nicholson did when Fr. Gruner died! I couldn’t believe it. I thought they were friends? Reminded of Michael Voris.”
Louie is obviously speaking truth that most of the others are unwilling to speak (or write). I, too, am financially supporting Louie’s courage and gifts which benefit all of us.
May God reward you, Louie.
“Rome will lose the Faith and become the seat of the antichrist.”
—- Our Lady of LaSalette ——- September 19, 1846
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After reading your words, Louie, I just can’t stop thinking about that prophesy.
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Our Lady of LaSalette, ora pro nobis.
Abut we also know that the Catholic Church cannot lose the faith. Putting the two together we see that what Church Bergoglio is head of is NOT the ark of salvation. It looks sort of like the Catholic Church on a superficial level, enough to deceive those who are swayed by externals, but it is a counterfeit, devoid of the true faith. Unless the popes have not condemned what VII affirms.
Truth Seeker, what you describe is classic Modernism. Bergoglio is Modernism on steroids! A true Vicar of Christ would (and should) be horrified at the desecration of the Holy Eucharist at EVERY New Order Mass. There are so many abuses it is difficult to count. Where is the outrage? Instead of correcting this horrendous crisis, Bergoglio is adding to them. He is keeping just enough externals to make it look sort of Catholic. That is not good enough. That is not the job description of the papacy. Truth Seeker, you have found Truth.
I understand how easy it is to play the boo-hoo card especially when there are children involved. BUT for the Holy Father to focus on one of the unfortunate results of divorce to the exclusion of the most important one is part of the diabolical disorientation. What about mortal sin and its consequences if un-absolved?
On and on Francis goes about the little kiddies but the possibility of parental damnation – as the trendy word is: crickets. The children have every chance to grow up, convert/repent and have salvation even though they may have a tough time after being brought up in a dysfunctional home. But parents who divorce and hook-up who are never urged to repentance? What about them?
When we talk about the Church never losing the faith we must understand it as the Apostles did when Christ died. They probably said to themselves – ‘well, this is the end then, eh?’ This went from 3pm on Friday until early evening on the Sunday when He appeared to them and they physically touched Him. God let them think the end was NOW.
But, of course, Our Lord rose and all was well. I think it’s going to be the same with the Church. She will appear dead. It will seem as though there is no faith left – didn’t Jesus ask about that? – but it will not be dead – it will be raised up from the ashes and flourish.
We can see right now that Rome has lost the Faith and if Our Lady can be believed Rome will not recover quickly. The Church throughout the world is very, very sick – near death. We feel this fear so keenly because we are missing the old ways, and our faces are shoved right in the crap on a daily basis.
Then we remember the promise and realize that as long as one person (last man standing?) keeps the Faith all will be well again in God’s own good time.
But this is basic Cathechism. The Church CANNOT teach error. These jokers calling themselves the successors of the apostles ARE teaching error. Either these jokers have no teaching authority or the Cathechism for a long, long time was wrong: the Church can teach error. If you read up on the ordinary and universal magisterium, we are bound under pain of heresy to accept the last 50 years. The only way out is to reject the authority of those pushing this agenda.
Maybe the real passion is that the Church is underground, just like Christ was in the tomb for 3 days. We are all wondering “where have they taken the Church?” It’s location is obscured by a counterfeit that the world thinks is the Catholic Church.
Something I just realized as I was reading your response, Barbara, is that Our Lady said, “‘ROME” will lose the Faith….”
She did Not say the “Church” will lose the Faith.
As Truth Seeker said the Church CANNOT lose the Faith or teach error, but ROME could and does on a minute by minute basis.
Maybe this is all elemental to all of you, but I just “got it.”
Sorry to come so late to the party……..
I’ve been reading this blog and a few others for a few years, including 1 Peter 5, Catholic Family News and the Remnant. I’m usually not very big on offering comments, but the whole thing with Steve Skojek and Michael Matt criticiszing Louie on Facebook is so upsetting!
I followed the Facebook argument as it was happening. At one point Louie posted a quote but didn’t say where it came from. Here it is –
“When he dons his robe as a Justice of the US Supreme Court, the basis of his decisions must be what the Constitution requires, and if abortion or the death penalty is permitted by the state under its law, then despite his Catholic belief it is the vox populi who are sovereign in these matters.”
Louie said, and I agree, that this isn’t even close to Catholic. The people are not “sovereign” Christ is. Everything we do has to be based on the truth and not the Constitution. Especially when it comes to things like abortion.
I googled it and found out that the quote comes from the Remnant! I was shocked. Makes me wonder whether their really “traditionalist.”
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/648-an-interview-with-associate-justice-of-the-u-s-supreme-court-antonin-scalia
Maybe that’s why Michael Matt was so critical of Louie’s article. Obviously, they disagree on this. If Louie deletes this I’ll understand, but I hope he addresses it here. It’s getting harder and harder to know who we can trust to speak the truth.
Yes Truth Seeker and Servant of Our Lady, you are both correct to point out places where I should be more clear. Sometimes we are all saying the same thing but using different words – I for one wish we could all sit around, with a cup, or glass, of something and just talk.
As for Rome, or the Church, losing the Faith…to me, Rome IS the Church so we are saying the same thing in essence. When you say the Church cannot lose the Faith, it is in contrast to what I said in that it will appear that the Church has lost the Faith. We are saying the same thing.
How we respond to these things appears different too because we use different ways to express our feelings. Truth Seeker, you say we are bound to accept the past 50 years, because we are bound to accept the ordinary and universal magisterium – my response is we are NOT bound to accept error – the Church teaches that. To say the only way out is to reject the authority of those preaching error goes too far.
When Pope Francis governs the Church on a day to day basis we obey. When he proposes something that does not match the Church’s perennial teaching we do not obey. But he still has the authority, given to him by God to govern. His governance is part of the visible presence of the Church on earth.
St. Robert Bellarmine teaches that there are three ‘marks’ of Catholics. They are Faith, worship, and governance. One Faith, one worship, and all must be under the governance of the Pope. This is ONLY Catholic. We share one Faith, all others have changed that in some way. We must all worship God in the way He decreed, and you know this doesn’t happen. We are all to be under the Pope, in Rome, but not only when he is an idiot – his AUTHORITY TO GOVERN is given him by God and we must be UNDER that governance.
I guess I’m beating a dead horse but I do want to say we are not in as much disagreement as it seems sometimes. Maybe we need a document of “language” so we can all say and mean the same thing at the same time!!!
Here’s the Bellarmine quote I was looking for:
“This coincides with another classical account of what membership in the Church, that is, fully belonging to her, consists of. St. Robert Bellarmine defines the true Church as:
. . . the congregation of men bound together by the profession of the same Christian Faith, and by the communion of the same Sacraments, under the rule of the legitimate pastors and especially under the one Vicar of Christ in earth, the Roman Pontiff. From this definition it can easily be ascertained which men belong to the Church and which do not.”
I thought you WERE saying that the CHURCH cannot lose the Faith, but ROME could, Barbara.
You are right, a cup or glass of something would be great, were it possible.
Until then, Louie provides the next best thing.
So disturbing, PioNono.
I agree with you on all that you have said, although I did not know all that you have revealed here. Please keep those of us who don’t have Facebook updated if anything new occurs. How sad.
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Louie needs our prayers, along with our donations.
@Barbara: Cannot figure out how to reply to the latest post.
Of course we cannot believe condemned errors and heresy. But we must also be obedient to Church authorities for salvation. If the Church COULD teach errors then it would no longer be the ark of salvation but the ark of damnation. This is impossible, because Christ is with the Church till the end in time and the gates of hell cannot prevail. The only way both conditions for salvation could be met is to realize that these faithless men are not Catholic and hence have no authority. The have no authority to bind us to obedience. They dress up in costumes, they say mass, they call a man in white “Holy Father” but if we obey them we go to hell. This is contrary to the very purpose of the Church, which is to save people from hell.
“. . . the congregation of men bound together by the profession of the same Christian Faith, ”
You and I both know that these men calling themselves successors of apostle do not have the Catholic faith, and are hence outside the Church. If they still can govern, that means that they have the Catholic Faith, and hence we ought to share the same faith.
I too do not know who to trust. Dogmatic antisedevacantism makes no sense to me because the seat becomes vacant every time a pope drives. Even sedevacantists accept the papal primacy–they just don’t think certain heretics are popes. If we ought to correct everything a man we call pope says and does, it is not he who is the pope but we ourselves.
When Pope St. Pius X was elected it is said he broke down crying, saying; “I am not worthy.” When bergoglio was “selected” by what was very likely an illicit election, he basically dissolved the papacy saying in effect, “it is not worthy”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRsiS9h-PG8: Iam and support the F.S.S.P.X.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRsiS9h-PG8: Iam and support the F.S.S.P.X.
david96343, I totally agree.