Having offered my two cents about what is going on at CMTV, and wishing Michael Voris well in handling his internal affairs, let’s take a look at one of the arguments put forth in the manifesto.
The writer points to the following “very poignant” passage from the Book of Genesis in support of CMTV’s decision not to engage the pope’s offenses against our Holy Catholic faith. He even goes so far as to use Sacred Scripture to condemn those who do otherwise.
Not my game of choice, but I’ll play along just the same. For the record, I will say it again; this is the work of an as yet unnamed character who is pushing the envelope at CMTV. At this point, I’m fairly certain I know who it is, and it is him to whom I speak and refer.
The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was peopled. Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.” God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.”
As the CMTV oracle would have it, those who address the pope’s offenses directly (me, for example, when I write about things like Pope Francis’ encouragement to Muslims to hold fast to a false religion that rejects Our Blessed Lord) are modern day versions of Ham, “telling others of their father’s nakedness.”
Only in Rome have we seen such name calling!
Look, it’s a nice effort in the protestant tradition, but let’s be clear: It’s neither me, nor Christopher Ferrara, John Vennari, Michael Matt nor anyone else who is “telling the world” of Pope Francis’ nakedness.
The CMTV holier-than-thou ghostwriter himself plainly admits, “We at ChurchMilitant.TV are as aware as anyone of what could be judged the ‘nakedness’ of Pope Francis and his predecessors.”
Well then, this gives rise to a question, “How is it that CMTV is so aware?”
The answer is simple: Authentic Catholic teaching as transmitted throughout the centuries is what makes it plainly known. No one had to “tell” CMTV that the pope is far-too-often naked; their Catholic faith alone informed them of this regrettable fact.
Another way of saying this is to state that the occasional nakedness of Pope Francis and his post-conciliar predecessors is exposed by the light of Christ.
So, what then are we to do about that?
Since the CMTV scribe is obviously keen on seeking answers in Sacred Scripture, perhaps the following passage from Matthew 5:14-16 will help him find his Catholic bearings:
You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
In the present case, one might say that the CMTV approach to the pope’s nakedness is tantamount to placing the light of Christ, our Holy Catholic faith, under a bushel.
I’m pleased to assume that this is done with the good intention of rendering a service to the Roman Pontiff and to the faithful he is duty bound to lead, but let’s not kid one another, so shielding the light of Christ from the pope’s words and deeds glorifies not our Father who is in heaven. Either we let the light shine or we don’t.
Returning to Genesis, while the CMTV exegete, who claims that others are guilty of purveying “spiritual pornography,” is pleased to congratulate himself for being a contemporary Shem, the poor man is merely engaging in what one might call in turn “spiritual masturbation.”
Aware of the pope’s scandalous condition, CMTV’s approach to the matter does not in any way serve to “cover” his nakedness; that’s pure fantasy, it’s really more like walking away from the scene of the crime.
Having left their spiritual father who reigns over the Household of God on earth shamefully exposed to every passerby, some are thus truly scandalized; many are rendered deeply confused, while still others depart in the belief that they encountered an image of Christ and the authentic Faith, when in truth they have not.
If we’re going to do role play with Genesis 9 as the backdrop, let us say that when the post-conciliar popes deny Christ, whether in word or deed, they can be likened to the drunken Noah, in this case, as men inebriated on modernism.
At such times as these, the popes also take on the role of Ham the tattler; their false witness immediately being exposed for all to see by the light of Christ who is Truth.
The likes of Christopher Ferrara, John Vennari, Michael Matt, and in a far more modest sense, me, are more properly likened to Shem and Japheth, covering the offensive sight of their father’s nakedness with the fabric of Catholic teaching, that those who encounter the scene may come away knowing the Lord’s life-saving truth.
One may reasonably respond, “Yes, but do such men avert their gaze?”
Taken as a metaphor for subjectively judging the state of the pope’s soul, something only Our Blessed Lord can do, absolutely such men avert their gaze, even as they meet the challenge of objectively addressing the Pontiff’s offenses against Christ and His Church, and this, at great cost.
Here’s the bottom line:
I am perfectly willing to assume good will on CMTV’s part as it relates to their editorial stance; I hope I’ve made that clear.
If CMTV wants to avoid direct criticism of the pope’s offenses as a matter of strategy; attempting thereby to apply the Lord’s exhortation to “be wise as serpents,” all in the belief that this approach may render a better service to the Church and the people for whom Christ died, that’s one thing.
This, in fact, is exactly the impression I’ve gotten from Michael in the past. Whether you agree with his tactics or not, I feel confident in saying that for him it’s all about drawing more people to the Church, her sacraments and ultimately salvation; it’s not about sanctimony.
The poison pen of Mr. Manifesto, on the other hand, writes a very different tale, one that reeks of a horse’s ass high upon which rides a still-anonymous writer who seems to think he has sole possession of the moral high ground in this discussion.
Careful partner, it’s a long way down.
I realize this is peripheral to your primary point, but it must be noted that appeal to sacred Scripture is not Protestant. It’s only Protestant wresting of the Scriptures from the womb of Mater Ecclesia that is wretched.
Two key problems I see with this “loyalty” to the Pope:
1. It is starting to look like the assumption is that the Church was founded for the benefit of the Pope (one soul): rather than the Pope being a servant to seek to save millions of souls. Because if the Church is not all about just the Pope, then the jeopardizing of many souls out weighs the issue of his one soul.
2. Long ago, before I was Catholic, I watched while a despised supervisor backed into another vehicle without saying anything: that was not an act of love or loyalty, it was an act of hate which I regret. And if it had been people, instead of a vehicle, that he was backing into, then that would have been an act of hate against them as well.
Not knowing if you have addressed this point in other articles, I find the programs CMTV puts out, specifically Vortex episodes and certain FBI/CIA installments, etc., to fly in the face of the paragraph wherein it is said, “Faithful Catholics need help in persevering through their anxieties and doubts, not continual reinforcement and encouragement of those troubling states. Less faithful Catholics form their judgments of “traditional Catholics” through the lens of perceived dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the Church and the Holy Father. ***Those who relentlessly criticize the Church, Her leaders, and especially the Holy Father, do immense harm to the Church Herself and discourage both potential converts and those struggling to stay faithful through the crisis that is all around us.*** (emphasis added) The sad reputation of “traditional Catholics” as angry dissidents from virtually everything in the Church today is as well deserved as the reputations of those rightly described as modernists.” This is taken from the revision, and was also present in the original posting.
Between the triple asterisks, specifically that of criticizing leadership, how can this be written with a straight face given the very fact that Michael Voris, whom I respect, consistently uses his Vortex program, FBI/CIA, public talks, etc., as a platform for doing that very thing? I think we would all agree that “the Church of Nice” is not some jab at the diocese in France. But that “Church” is the face of the Church, and so they criticize it by the very nature of their comments. They criticize leaderships’ actions CONSTANTLY. That one must take the thing which is being criticized, the action, done by a leader, and follow it logically that the same actions of the Holy Father deserve criticism is a consequence of the very thing CMTV so often spouts as their reason for defense: TRUTH.
There is a supreme amount of discontinuity unless they wish to truly qualify that paragraph in light of their very available programming. Is Fr. Barron a non-leader? Cardinal Dolan, is he too a non-leader? What about Cardinal DiNardo and their criticism of his actions in letting the Methodists use the Cathedral for “Ordinations” (must be brother and sister priests — how neo-Franciscan)… I suppose he isn’t a leader. Well, I’d agree on that, as none of these men evoke masculine leadership, but they are titular leaders. Real boobs as it were.
Further, is there not a passive-aggressive tone in the mentioning of the koran kissing, Assisi, etc.? They write, “While we greatly admire and are the beneficiaries of the work of those on whose shoulders we stand in the work to help restore the Catholic Church to its authentic glory, we can neither support nor encourage their ongoing, unnecessary and harmful attacks on the Church and the Holy Father. Most Catholics are not even aware of the many disconcerting words and deeds of Pope Francis and his predecessors. Most Catholics have no idea that there were ecumenical events at Assisi or that Pope John Paul II kissed the Koran.”
Can CMTV have their cake and eat it too, just so long as they say don’t jump off the bridge with a full-on demonstration of the leap? After all, they’re merely demonstrating what not to do, not actually doing it, with the ill-intent they despise, right?
Maybe they should just change the name to CYATV.
I read the “Manifesto” and found it condescending. It tells you not to have a brain nor make judgments for yourself. It practically tells you to stick your head in the sand and ignore what is going on, and who is behind it. Of course, a program like Church Militant would be out of business if they did that–yet they tell us we should. Next the “Manifesto” seems to NAME CALL and trash those that have not followed their advice. I got the impression that they have nominated themselves– the experts– appointed themselves to think for us and to help us “understand” as they are the ONLY CATHOLICS in the room. Who put them in charge to the exclusion of others? Bottom line, I will ignore such
silly dribble.
dear Jon Horton,
Right.
I liked your response Louie, however, you did not address the “ghost writers” remark about the “soft sedecancantist” i.e. Society of St. Pius the X. Also I had a personal experience with CMTV that no one returned my second call on. In my estimation, they are bullies and cowards and that goes for Voris in particular. Why doesn’t he just step up to the plate and make a statement? Is he too important to take the time? You are too forgiving a guy to continue this charade. Do something more important and let the half truths catch up with them, as it always does. Jesus is the TRUTH, not the half truth.
dear Bubbles,
excellent point.
If I may add-what do you get when you have a bully who is also a coward? A dangerous individual {s.}
OK, but let’s just quantify it by saying it’s a difference in “approach.”
Dear Mr. V., I liked your response too.
And yes, we get it that you are willing to assume good will on the part of CMTV.
The Pope himself said he appreciates criticism, and so long as this is done in charity and truth, it is a good thing. It would not be a good thing for the whole Church to fall asleep and wake up to the vision of the Church overtaken completely by Modernism.
The main reason CMTV has flourished is precisely b/c they had the courage to speak the truth and fight against ALL evil…wherever it was, even in the Church. It was a light in darkness…for that is what truth is…light:+) If they cave in this one area, even for “strategic” reasons…which is B.S. in my book…Our Lord didn’t cave one iota…they will lose the light they have been given…and that saddens me. But I, like you, have hope that Michael will see the light…and uncover the lost brigand among his ranks. Won’t be the first time the enemy has sent one of his own to corrupt the good guys:+) I could pick apart the entire manifesto…but you do it much more kindly. Thank you:+) God bless~
Dear Bubbles……..You do not sugar-coat………nor, do you ‘flatter’……
This so-called Manifesto is a blessing from God for Michael and Co., it will humble them. It will make them catch a breath, smell the roses and see themselves for who they really are, and make some changes. Michael’s zeal for the faith is very obvious and very sincere, but ‘bit’ naive and with tendency to ‘pride’.
He is a ‘new kid on the block’ in comparison with the ‘soldiers of Christ’, that have been in the front lines for decades. Protecting the Holy Faith, Holy Tradition, the Holy Tridentine Mass……….persecuted, despised, abused, threatened. Only HE KNOWS, what those who love Him, love His Truth are enduring till today. God Knows each one by name……..Deo Gratias!
Michael and Co., is NOT a solution to the Passion of the Church! It takes fearless faith……..hate of heresy…….love of God above ‘false respect of man’………to belong to the Church Militant! In every century these ‘pillars’ of the Holy Faith have passed their bloody ‘torch’ to the next generation………following the Royal Way of The Cross!……there’s no other ‘way’.
May God Bless All Soldiers of Christ!
Viva Cristo Rey!
What always bothered me about Michael Voris was that, while “exposing lies and falsehoods”, he never offered any real solutions. I believe that he thought He Himself was the solution merely by pointing out what was wrong. He (and his spokespersons) do not hide the fact that they are adamantly anti-SSPX, Father Gruner, and anyone who speaks for the Truth–such as Vennari, Matt, Ferrara and you, Louie. Mr. Voris cannot solve any problems in the Church because he refuses to see the source of the problems. Keep up the good work, Louie!!
Louie writes: “Look, it’s a nice effort in the protestant tradition, but let’s be clear: It’s neither me, nor Christopher Ferrara, John Vennari, Michael Matt nor anyone else who is ‘telling the world’ of Pope Francis’ nakedness.”
In light of Ferrara’s most recent article in the Remnant, are we even sure he and Mr. Matt still believe that Francis is Pope? For those who have not read the piece in question, it is available online at the Remnant website’s following URL:
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/274-latest-updates-from-socci-the-papal-games
It appears from this article they may be following the lead of fellow longtime leading Fatima crusader Fr. Paul Kramer.
P.S. It is not just Ferrara’s article in the Remnant that is eye-opening for longtime trads like me. The comments below the article are just as indicative of a giant shift in thinking among many traditionalists.
My guess is this CMTV article has Michael Voris’ support. Mr Voris may be outspoken as a Catholic media personality, but he is not stupid as a businessman. He knows that appearing to be tolerant of sedevacantism would pretty much kill CMTV’s wider popularity. Just ask Matatics, Drolesky, Michael & CIndy Cain, Fr Paul Kramer….
So Mr Voris has sought to retreat to the classic Wanderer position, in order to inoculate CMTV against the growing tolerance of sedevacantism (and its various sub-theories) among the “Recognize & Resist” crowd.
Rest assured, I’ll get to the ludicrous “soft sedevacantist” comment in another post. 🙂
In truth, MMC, the gnosticism expressed in CMTV’s NeoCatholic charter isn’t new. They’ve adhered to this gnostic policy from the beginning, holding that knowledge that the rot begins at the top of the human hierarchy is for the very few who can handle it. The rest are to embrace various noble lies, such as that the rot flows from certain rogue bishops and laity or that the rot flows from the “spirit of the council” rather than the council itself and the popes who have promoted it rather than jettisoned it.
The mystery writer wanted to be “as wise as serpents” , but ended up being “too clever by half”.
Numbers 22
So Balaam (Bergoglio) rose in the morning, and saddled his ass (the Church), and went with the princes of Moab (the enemy). And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her into the road. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall, and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. When the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the ass, “Because you have made sport of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the ass said to Balaam, “Am I not your ass, upon which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
http://thatthebonesyouhavecrushedmaythrill.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/why-have-media-not-done-dirty-on-pope.html
Well, what Pooh Bear expressed earlier with exquisite understated class, I am about to express with zero class and hardly understated.
The current Supreme Pontiff also wishes heads of the Church to get entangled in the smell of the sheep. Not that Voris is a head of the Church by any means, but consider that perhaps Mr. Vennari rubbed up a little too close to Voris at last year’s Catholic Identity Conference, and Voris is desperately attempting to shake that damned Trad smell off his clothes.
Because it’s recommended to acquire the scent of the sheep, as long as , heaven forbid, they are not Trad sheep.
Louie: I have to agree with you that the charge of “soft sedevacantism” is ludicrous. Given that Ferrara and the Remnant are publishing articles arguing that Benedict is still the reigning Pope (see the link I included above), one can hardly accuse them of believing the Seat of Peter is empty. Same thing with fellow Fatima crusader Fr. Paul Kramer, who stated quite bluntly before Christmas that Benedict’s resignation had been invalid and that Francis was no Pope.
P.S. Louie – where do you stand on the whole sedebenedictplenist controversy? Do you think Francis is now (valid) pope, or is Benedict still reigning Pontiff?
If you believe that Francis is the valid Pope, what do you make of recent statements by Fr. Kramer, as well as the article (linked to above) published by Ferrara in the Remnant arguing that Benedict’s papal resignation was invalid?
validity idol – protestant much:
“I have near my desk a useful little CTS pamphlet (1958) (it cost me 6d when I was a smart little chap of seventeen … money well spent): The Popes from St Peter to Pius XII. Jolly good for dates and simple summaries. Based upon the Annuario Pontificio of 1904 and 1905. Each pope has his own number. Numbers 112, 114, 116: Pope Formosus was posthumously deposed by his successor Stephen VII but rehabilitated by his successor Theodore II. 119 Leo V: “Regarded as probably an anti-pope”. Leo VIII (993): “His election is of doubtful validity”. 133 Benedict V: “His election is of doubtful validity”. 146A Sylvester III: “His election is of doubtful validity”. 147 Gregory VI: “His election therefore is of doubtful validity”.
http://liturgicalnotes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/yet-more-definitive-tenendum.html
the point being that Real Catholics gave felt free to ‘discern’ a crock Pope or. Catholic Pope for a long time – until V2ism became the prot virus of confused ‘catholics’.
dear Saluto,
thank you and if I may say, said discernment is a sign of Catholicity !
Saluto:
So who do you believe is the current pope? Benedict? Francis? Bishop Williamson? Someone else? Nobody?
God bless for your generosity, Linda. I sometimes look back over my single digit keyboarding, seemingly possessed tablet, comment ‘contributions and wonder how any of the make sense.
–
is it just me, or does billionaire bill’s auto correct = auto corrupt?
p.s. I was trained on an obscure and long forgotten antique curiosity called a typewriter. maybe that’s the prob’.
p.s.
Tor Tequila, honestly, Pope Emeritus Benedict. call me old school, but I it walks like a pope, talks like a pope and suffers like a pope…
I don’t see why CMTV and all Traditional Catholics can’t take what is happening with Pope Francis as an opportunity for an object lesson in modernism, Catholic truths and authentic faith. Pope Francis gives us weekly if not daily examples of what a true modernist looks like. This not only helps us learn about modernism but it’s opposite: true Catholic teaching. It helps us forgive our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and see that true structure of the Church is not one single man or even his cadre of bishops but the deposit of faith and those who follow it. It teaches us true faith…which is an assent to the truth…not a feeling or dependency on earthly men. Cont’d.
Is Pope Francis hurting us by his statements and actions? Yes…absolutely…I feel the pain of lances going into my gut and spiritual body weekly. But strangely, if I follow our Lord’s wisdom and offer it up, detaching, forgiving, praying for the lost man…I end up growing from it. Only Our Lord could take filth and find a pearl in it…Romans 8:28 alive and well…but I think it’s only if we look for it. Don’t let the evil coming from the Vatican go to waste…use it as a spiritual bootcamp to strengthen your ability to fight back, be at peace in the storm, and glorify Him in the midst of battle:+) God bless~
Speaking of the bishop of Rome, here is the latest “teaching”: http://mundabor.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/francis-true-disorientation/
From where I sit, I don’t think deacon Sandy would have even imagined that anyone of his modernist brothers and sisters could have gone there.
PS Personally, I think he is making it up as he goes along.
Really!
dear MMC,
the points which you so touchingly enumerate address why I abhore the “approach” of CMTV. Given what you state, if we can be discerning and wise with the help of Our Queen, Seat of Wisdom, we can define for even someone just above- let’s say -the age of reason, just what is going on within the context of authentic catechesis. There is nothing to fear.
If I may also say,
those who label Trads as bickerers or infighters-need to appreciate that Trads don’t mind charitable {yet mature,} back and forth among each other. This is because we can go back and forth in discourse as much as we want. The reason this is so is that the very Church Our Lord established, however, is a Rock, which does NOT go back and forth.
dear S. Armaticus,
I know. Horrendous.
I suspect the reason that CMTV is abandoning the critique-the-Pope category is to guard against the sins of detraction, slander, and libel. Proclaiming the sins and errors of another is legit only in certain circumstances, and is often sinful in itself. (All Catholics must put a short leash on their tongues and keyboards.) The best way to guard against detraction, slander, gossip and libel is to follow the old adage of limiting what one says. Say good things or keep quiet. Much of blogging in general is simply gossip, and it only gets worse from there. When you confess those sins the priest may request that you make reparation for any damage you have caused to the person’s reputation. Issuing apologies is probably not something that CMTV can afford to do, especially given that its main focus is spreading the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole world is a spin-zone and you can’t trust what the “reporters” are reporting, especially if it is from the Vatican. Maybe it’s time we all log off and move on to more constructive activities.
@Linda and S.Armaticus – I know – freakiefrankie has a ‘gift’ for making the Mystery, the most incomprehensible and singular act of Love that will ever be – sound like a coupon deal at a store chain. is this because of Bishbergo’s under the equator upbringing – ummm that matters because???
–
there is a point when even the dunce in the room will recognise his shame upon shame, learning to change his ways, or shut up.
–
we talk about charity – an easy thing to be finger-pointy about when it’s confined to lost lives…but what about lost souls?
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Our Lord’s sheeple. lets pray for each other, and for Pope Emeritus Benedict (not perfect, but not lubricating Satan’s nether’s and enjoying the aroma).
The Pope is not the Catholic Church and the Catholic Church is not the Pope. Can we be loyal to the Catholic Church and her Teachings and Doctrines and Sacraments without having full allegiance to the Pope if he is in fact promoting non-Catholic teaching–Yes. Do I just consume and accept everything that is reported through the AP, Yahoo News and Rolling Stone Magazine, etc., etc. without question. The way I see it, if something doesn’t seem just right, further investigation is warranted and a fair and balanced assessment requires seeking information from all sides (including the opposite point of view) and through prayer and fasting, Masses and adorations, Rosaries and supplications, the Truth will be revealed. By the way, when you refer to Medjugorje as “Spiritual Pornography,” donations cease and are redirected to more suitable “Harvesters.” JMJ
Dear MCC, your sincere advise is good, for a ‘religious person’…….but, for ‘lay’ Catholics who know their faith……is most difficult, almost agonizing at times, to know how many souls are deceived, and how many daily loose their faith, worse yet, how many daily go to hell……..dying not baptized, not repented, either fallen away from the ‘truth’, or simply ‘happy’ praising God in every ‘stripe of sect’………because of the ‘false ecumenism’…….the evil message of ‘universal salvation’……Jews and Muhammad’s and Catholics pray to the same God!……left to perish………or, ‘who am I to judge’!
Are we our brothers keepers or are we NOT? …..Ave Maria!
Is “soft-sedevacantist” anything like “pseudo-Lefebvrite”?
dear Maggie,
yes.
And use both those terms in the “tell us about yourself” box when applying for work at Catholic Answers Live.
Linda…….this is the Catholic ‘spirit’…..keep the good fight!
Louie, I emailed CMTV, Simon Rafe essentially replied that they won’t tell us who wrote the manifesto because the authorship doesn’t matter according to him. He says it represents the official position of CMTV s an apostolate and they are not budging from it. I tried explaining to him everything that was wrong with their arguments, but I believe his pride is getting in the way of him listening to reason.
On an aside, and now that we all know what SV represents, I bring you Francis Watch II. But first a disclaimer, I respect Bishop Sanborn and Father Cekada even though I do not share their views about the papacy. However, as I ‘splained in a previous post, they are fighting the good fight, and if the Holy Spirit has put them where they are, “who am I to judge”.. Anyways, the good Fathers really get rolling at about the 60th minute. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/restorationradio/2014/02/21/francis-watch-ii-the-revolution-speeds-up.
Enjoy!
While you are listening to the above broadcast, and want to know where those hilarious Fathers are getting all those “pithy” names to call us Faithful, I bring you the “The Pope Francis Little Book of Insults”. The blog is titled “That the bones you have crushed may thrill”, but for some reason I can’t load the link here. Anyways, enjoy:
“Old maid!”
“Fomenter of coprophagia!”
“Specialist of the Logos!”
“Rosary counter!”
“Functionary!”
“Self-absorbed, Promethean neo-Pelagian!”
“Restorationist!”
“Pelagian!”
“Mr and Mrs Whiner!”
“Triumphalist!”
“Liquid Christian!”
“Museum mummy!”
“Renaissance prince!”
“Airport Bishop!”
“Ideologue of the Logos!”
“Leprous courtier!”
“Idealogue!”
“Long-faced, mournful funeral Christian!”
“Gnostic!”
“Careerist Bishop!”
“Sourpuss!”
“Pretender!”
“Liturgical obsessive!”
“Sayer of prayers!”
“Authoritarian!”
“Elitist!”
“Querulous and disillusioned pessimist!”
“Sad Christian!”
“Pickled pepper-faced Christian!”
“Children! Afraid to dance! To cry! Afraid of everything!”
“Asker for certainty in all things!”
“Closed, sad, trapped Christian who is not a free Christian!”
“Pagan Christian!”
“Little monster!”
“Defeated Christian!”
“Creed-reciting, parrot Christian!”
“Watered-down faith, weak-hoped Christian!”
“Inquisitorial beater!”
“Seminarians who grit their teeth and wait to finish,
follow rules and smile [who] reveal the hypocrisy of clericalism – one of the worst evils!”
“Abstract ideologue!”
“Fundamentalist!”
“Smarmy, idolator priest!”
“Worshiper of the god Narcissus!”
“Vain, butterfly-priest!”
“Priest-wheeler dealer!”
“Priest-tycoon!”
“Religious who have a heart as sour as vinegar!”
“Promoter of the poison of immanence!”
“Those closed in the formality of a prayer that is cold, stingy [who]
might end up as Michal, in the sterility of her formality.”
[Please take note: This is satire. I have not (as yet) been commissioned to compile a book of Pope Francis insults. Anyway, let’s continue the book…]
“Older people nostalgic for structures and customs which are no longer life-giving in today’s world!”
“Young people addicted to fashion!”
“Pastry-Shop Christians!”
Finally, two things. First the list is an ongoing project, and second…. there will be a pop quiz. 🙂
Dearest Halina:+) “Religious” person or lay person, we are all called to be saints. And we have all been given the graces (if we but ask) to endure the utter sadness of watching what is unfolding…it is an impetus to pray each day for the lost souls and our lost Holy Father…that will bring you peace:+)
Linda- wonderful post! Yes, we trads have the backbone to fight for truth, even if it’s with each other…a worthy battle! Ours are not the petty squabbles of children but the conceptual/spiritual battles of men, a battle for unity based on truth…with good will and the salvation of souls as our motivation:+) Glad to be with you in this fight:+) God bless~
PS I am not a religious…just a dorky Trad that is so bloody grateful to have found Christ and His true Church:+)
Great reformer- If CMTV were looking to avoid slander at all costs then they need to shut it (as you note) about all of the priests, bishops, cardinals, Catholic media, writers, theologians, chancery staff they have called out for their compliance with the destruction of the Church. Slander is speaking a lie against another…and anything that comes out from the Pope or hierarchy is usually public in nature i.e. their own public words or actions on record…so little opportunity to truly slander when Church leadership has been scandalizing all on their own for decades. It is not uncharitable to confront the public scandal and lies…it saves souls and lets the light of Christ shine in. Cont’d
And there would be no need for blogs if priests, bishops and other church leaders were doing their job of fighting evil within the Church and culture. Blogs are catechizing generations of ignorant Catholics…and I for one am grateful for the faithful ones who speak the truth in charity regardless the cost (like Louie). I don’t like false reporting…so I read blogs that cite the original work/words…again like Louie’s…and form a judgment based on reason informed by faith. Only truth sets us free…I do not fear it for I have true Truth, Him, running the show in my life:+) God bless~
Regarding the infamous June 15th sermón controversy by Francis, I got a hold of the Italian original and realised that the English translation is flawed. It’s ironic that I should say this even though I don’t consider Francis legit as pope, but I really do like to stick to the facts in honour to truth.
Here is the Italian original: http://www.news.va/it/news/il-papa-il-cristiano-non-pensa-alla-sua-pace-ma-va
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In Italian it reads:
” E quando noi andiamo a confessarci, per esempio, non è che diciamo il peccato e Dio ci perdona. No, non è quello! Noi troviamo Gesù Cristo e gli diciamo: ‘Questo è tuo e io ti faccio peccato un’altra volta’.”
“And when we go to confess, for example, it is not that we say our sins and God forgives us. No, it is not that. WE FIND JESUS CHRIST AND WE TELL HIM, “THIS IS YOURS AND I MAKE YOU “SIN” [As in “was made sin for us – St Paul to Corinthians] AGAIN.”
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For those who can read Spanish, the Spanish translation faithfully reflects the Italian original, this should not be surprising as the grammar of the two languages is closely related and it’s easy to translate from one language to another.
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Maybe lesson for future: check Italian original before coming to hasty conclusions.
As I was cooking and baking today, I was thinking about all of you, wishing in my heart, how I would love to invite you all to my house. The cake that I baked for this weekend for my family is like ‘babka’ with chocolate (looks like a marble cake) very delicious. I would make good coffee, tea and heck even beer, anything to make you happy. We would sit in my large family room, eating and drinking…..sharing our faith.
Today I picked up my picture all framed, very beautiful almost overwhelming……….it’s hanging on the wall in our family room…….”The martyrs in the Coliseum”…..a reminder for all of us…….whom are we to imitate, when things get tough.
Forgive me, sometimes I long for good Catholic company……..all around me are people that are too busy with things. I will tell you something quickly……I had to run to the store to exchange shoes for my 17 year old son, as I was paying a very nice lady at the register says to me……Oh, I love your ‘crucifix’ and your medal of the Virgin Mary. Happily I smiled and thanked her. Then she asked me……..to which parish do you belong (meaning which Novus Ordo Church), so I told her…..I attend Latin Mass. Oh, St. Mary’s (she’s thinking N.O. Mass in Latin), I said, No! I attend the SSPX, True Latin Mass!
The very nice lady’s mouth dropped, her smile disappeared and she turn her head away from me, as if she forgot to do something. The Church she goes to, the priest is known to speak loud and clear against the Old Mass, and ho, ho, ho, SSPX……..THEY ARE NOT CATHOLICS!
People are just soooooooo Nice, especially, neo-Catholics, the Old Mass is just hunting them, they almost fear it.
Viva Cristo Rey!
Halina – maybe in heaven we can have a piece of that cake. What a sad state of affairs the Church is in when the most Faithful have been demonised in people’s minds by years of lies from satan’s ministry of propaganda – and this is why people need to be more than unthinking, uncritical pew potatoes.
God Bless.
s.armaticus – great radio link Part II
Saluto,
LOL! “uncritical pew potatoes”
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good one!
edu – and I meant it in the nicest possible way, of course.
Dear Saluto — Yes in heaven……I think, this is what I meant. Sometimes, I catch myself ‘dreaming’, but nevertheless………YES, HEAVEN IS MUCH BETTER PLACE FOR US TO MEET.
God help us!
….Louie, hope you won’t mind for posting this article, it fit well with your post…….written by a Traditional Priest
PBS just aired a 90 minute documentary called: “Secrets of the Vatican”. My friends watched it. This documentary was so filled with vile things that the husband, a very good Catholic, after seeing it, said something like: “Why be associated with anything so heinous and corrupt.”
What I heard was that the documentary also explained why Pope Benedict abdicated. Basically it was because of the corruption in the Curia and money laundering by the people involved in the Vatican Bank. And he did not have the strength and means to fight it.
Basically, these are the exact same things the pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, in 2010 was trying to stop by leaking information to the media. When he did it, he said it was the Holy Spirit who led him to do it for the love of his Church. He also said he knew he would suffer terribly as a result of exposing the corruption and masonic activity in the Vatican. He spent his first 20 days in a cell so small that he couldn’t stretch out his arms completely. The light was on 24 hours and damaged his eye sight.
This documentary also reported on the homosexual priests in Rome. It retold the report done by an undercover journalist four years ago who visited homosexual priests bars and parties in Rome. It also talked about a priest having homosexual relations with the reporters friend all night long and them getting up and putting on the vestments to say Mass.
It also reported on a priest who raped a 8 year old girl in church somewhere in the US. And all of us are furious and ashamed at all the priest sexual abuse of minors (mostly homosexual priests with young men under age) and children. I think that the pope, cardinals and bishops are not sufficiently aware of the disgust and anger so many Catholics have over the sex abuse.
But, besides the Catholics, there is vehement hatred against Jesus’ Catholic Church by so many people outside the Church. One time I read the comments on an article from a newspaper on abuse. The comments were so vile and full of hatred for the Catholic Church and any priest.
On top of all this, there are those billions of dollars (that belong to the average Catholic who donated) paid out to lawyers and the victims of abuse. Many diocese have gone, or are going, bankrupt from these law suits. So many important buildings and land have been sold to pay for the lawsuits that were meant to be used for the mission of Jesus through the Catholic Church.
I am bring all this up to say we have grave grave problems in our Catholic Church. And most of these abuses, sexual and financial, have been since the liberalization of the teachings of the Catholic Church. There has always been sin in the Catholic Church from the beginning of time, but it definitely has greatly multiplied since Vatican II and the sexual revolution of the 1960′s.
Now, at the same time that this documentary is being broadcast, the pope and bishops all over the world are persecuting priests who are orthodox and traditional. While a blind eye is given to bad priests, many of the traditional priests are persecuted and ostracized in most diocese today.
Just when we most need the medicine for the evil virus that has entered the Church (true traditional Catholic teaching and the Latin Mass) those who want to administer it, are marginalized and silenced. Even super progressive Pope Paul VI said: “the smoke of Satan had entered the Church“.
And this is where I want to bring up the very controversial Society of St. Pius the X. Yes they are not in Canonical union with Rome. But, all they are teaching is what was always taught for hundreds and hundreds of years in the Catholic Church. While the progressives are canonized, the Society is deemed extreme and treated as if they are the devil himself. Don’t we have it backwards. Just go back 50 years and they would just be one more simple part of the Church. We wouldn’t even notice them. But now they are called “ultra ultra conservatives”.
I do not advocate going to their Latin Masses. But I do appreciate what they teach and the Catholic patrimony they have preserved for us to come back to.
Yes, I know that much of the press is out to paint the whole Mystical Body of Christ as evil so that they can dismiss what Jesus wants to teach to all of humanity through her. But at the same time it is important to admit what is truly evil in our Church and repent of it and get back to the Biblical teachings and life. We need to pray that those with the hierarchical power in the Church repent and reform the Church rather than going along even further with the evil society of today.
Each one of us traditional Catholics deeply love Jesus, His Church and everyone else, saints and sinners alike. We can begin by ourselves living chaste lives and our adherence to the Church’s orthodox teaching. Then we put all our trust in the power of God, who will respond eventually to our humble prayers. With joy we share truth and are willing to be persecuted and marginalized out of love for God, our Church and our neighbor. We know this is not our finally home, and that in the end, God always wins. It is so wonderful to be a traditional Catholic.
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0 THOUGHTS ON “THE SHAME OF THE VATICAN; PBS FRONTLINE”
Which SSPX are you talking about Halina? The Fellayite faction lead by Bishop Fellay, or the Resistance faction lead by Bishop Williamson?
Dear Halina,
The reason why the modernists hate the SSPX is all explained in John 15. The SSPX are hated because they possess the true Faith as it was given to the Apostles by Our Savior, and passed down through the generations. Here is the relevant passage from the Catholic Online website.
“1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.
3 You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch — and withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it.
8 It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples.
9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.
12 This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
13 No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you.
15 I shall no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
16 You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.
17You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
18 If the world hates you, you must realise that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice of you has drawn you out of the world, that is why the world hates you.
20 Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.
21 But it will be on my account that they will do all this to you, because they do not know the one who sent me.
22 If I had not come, if I had not spoken to them, they would have been blameless; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin.
23 Anyone who hates me hates my Father.
24 If I had not performed such works among them as no one else has ever done, they would be blameless; but as it is, in spite of what they have seen, they hate both me and my Father.
25 But all this was only to fulfil the words written in their Law: They hated me without reason.
26 When the Paraclete comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.
27 And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
Explains it all, if you ask me. From the empty seminaries and churches of the N.O., (Every branch in me that bears no fruit He cuts away) to the hatred for the Traditionalists and their full seminaries of both SSPX, and Ecclesia Dei, and anywhere else where the True Faith springs up – think FFI ( …every branch that does bear fruit He prunes to make it bear even more.) to the hatred of the Catholic Faith as taught by the Magisterium (You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.) And I am only on the third verse.
But the “tell” (as in the poker game) that reveals all that one needs to know about Francis and the modernists is contained in verse 12. “This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.” Reading through the Francis Little Book of Insults, can anyone honestly claim that Bergoglio takes John 15:3 seriously?
“Which SSPX are you talking about Halina? The Fellayite faction lead by Bishop Fellay, or the Resistance faction lead by Bishop Williamson?”
Boy, Torqeymada, you are a trying one.
Insisting that there is more than one Society of St. Pius X because one of the four bishops was expelled from the Society is really very silly.
The so-called “Resistance” movement is a point of sadness, to be sure. Incidentally, Brian McCall briefly addresses some of their silly claims in an article in the latest Remnant.
Dear Tequilla, do you happen to be a sister of “I am not Spartacus?”
Dear Armaticus,
Let those who hate the Society of St. Pius X……gnash their teeth…..there’s no fool like an OLD GOAT!
The ‘sheep’, Catholics who have pure hearts, are not blind to SEE and HEAR! God has raised up a saintly leader Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, whose only goal was to preserve the genuine Faith of Christ’s Holy Church……for this ‘truth’, they, the servants of God, together with the faithful of God, are ‘joyfully’ enduring persecution, from the wicked enemy (not for long)……… their fruits (envy of the hypocrites) are almost as taste of ‘heaven!’
The faithful are compared to the fields full of flowers……blooming and blooming as we speak…….. Omnia Ad Majore Dei Gloriam!
Viva Cristo Rey!
MMC, thanks for your thoughtful post. I am not sure why CMTV decided to publically disavow old friends. There is no harm in having the teaching of the Faith as a focus. But to criticize those who discuss and clarify the error of our frequently embarrassing leadership is also important. EVERYONE knows the ‘who am I to judge’ line. It is vitally important that people be reminded that the office of Pope is exactly what gives him the right to judge. He should not have accepted the election if he is unable for the work.
But I digress. I am going to be considering cancelling my subscription at CMTV due to the unkindness. They have cut ties with the Catholic Answers crowd, and now are distancing themselves from the historically Trad Catholics. Soon they’ll have no one left but one another at the station…
One last thing, it doesn’t matter if a sedevacantist is smart. It only matters that he has cut himself off from the Church, like Luther. Indeed, his/her writing should not be read. And I’ve known plenty of them. Being a long-time SSPX parishioner, I’ve watched them come and go through the years. Funny, they think I’m liberal!
Halina: Just one of the four bishops? And how many priests have joined the Resistance? How many SSPX priests in France alone signed the statement of public resistance against Bishop Fellay? Why was Bishop Tissier de Mallerais exiled to Chicago?
Torquemada, my priest knows Bishop de Mallerais very well – I might ask him that loaded question, but, actually, your blind suppositions are ridiculous.
The Resistance is full of malcontents and those who were and are quick to judge things they did not understand completely. It’s as simple as that.
The whole thing is a bit ridiculous at this point, given that its inception was due to a “fear” of a premature reconciliation with Rome that never occurred and, as we learned after the fact, was never in danger of occurring!
And, again (you ignored my point), there is one SSPX, that expelled one bishop, period. That is a fact.
@A Catholic Thinker:
Really?! The Resistance is nothing more than a handful of SSPX malcontents?
Of course you would say that as an admitted Tissierite. More whistling past the sede graveyard I would imagine, given that with Bishop Williamson’s expulsion your guy becomes “the hardliner” and thus inherits Williamson’s “odd man out” portfolio among the remaining three remaining bishops.
But for the sake of the argument let us assume that what you say it correct. Bishop Williamson is nothing more than a reactionary malcontent. He was still chosen and consecrated for the episcopal dignity by Archbishop Lefebvre personally. What are you suggesting about the Archbishop’s discernment?
I suppose you could argue that three out of four ain’t bad. However, one of the original three chosen by the Archbishop for episcopal consecration in 1988 refused. That would be Fr Faure. Soon to be Bishop Faure if rumors about Bishop Williamson’s intentions prove correct.
So according to you, two out of Archbishop Lefebvre’s original five picks for episcopal consecration in 1988 are nothing more than malcontents.
@ ACT,
Beware of THE agenda.
It’s laughable, but you are just “winding our friend up”.
@ Halina,
Yea, it’s Not Spartacus in disguise. 😉
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Once again, John15:2. “Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.” Like they say, the proof is in the pudding, or rather Matt 7:15-20
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15. ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves.
16 You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit.
18 A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit.
19 Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.
20 I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.
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Plain as the nose on ones face.
TT – so are we to slander Christ because one of the twelve went over to the modernist dark side? What,11 out of 12 ain’t bad (same percentages), even though He is the Son of God.
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Modernism is anti-reason, anti-revelation (God made Flesh), anti-God.
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which one of these can the SSPX be accused of? And there is no reason without revelation.
@saluto:
Same percentages?! Um, I knew that math was never a strong point for Recognize & Resist trads, given that sedevacantism claimed most of engineers and scientists attached to the trad movement, while the R&R attracted mainly lawyers in terms of professionals…..but given your grasp of basic math, you would not happen to be a geocentrist, eh?
God: 13 out of 14 (Original 12, plus St. Paul and St. Matthias) = approx 93 percent
Archbishop Lefebvre: 2.5 out of 5 (since nobody is quite sure why Bishop Tissier was sent to Chicago) = 50 percent.
mea culpa TT – I guess I was ‘inspired’ by the angels share to triple the weight of the one who went to his place.
@Patt – You nailed it. It was paternalistic dribble. Let the faithful go on in their ignorance..it’ll keep them safe. We wise folks at CMTV will only rip apart 99.9% of the Church hierarchy and when you notice the Pope says or does the same things we just condemned…..no wait…. the public is too stupid to know what the Pope says and does……that’s it…..but they know all about what the rest of the Church is up to……yeah, this is very logical. The faithful are having their spiritual maturity insulted by a manifesto that doesn’t even think straight. Garbage.
The direction Michael Voris and CMTV have taken recently is eerily similar to that of Father John Corapi at the end of his ministry.
Has anyone noticed lately CMTV’s striking out against those that object to the Pope’s heresy and the Lady of Medjugorje?
I have been to Medjugorje. The Holy Spirit is there! Mary Mother of God is there!
Michael, you were brought to this moment for a great reason. Please see it through.
Yours in Christ,
Dominic
Agreeing with Dominic, I personally went ‘uh-oh’ when Mr. Voris described the Maria Divine Mercy (TheWarning) messages as diabolic and also ‘spiritual pornography’ – then the lack of criticism to Bergoglio was no surprise. The follow-up on ‘debunking’ Medjugorje was then predictable.