For it has been reported to me that there is quarreling among you. Each one says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apol’los,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? (cf 1 Cor. 1:12-13)
On April 20th, Fr. Linus Clovis, spiritual director and chairman of Family Life International NZ, published a brief response to Amoris Laetitia which gives one to suspect that perhaps he belongs to Raymond.
Fr. Clovis first garnered international attention back in May 2015 thanks to a presentation given in Rome wherein he spoke of the real “Francis Effect.”
In what is perhaps the most memorable line from the roughly 31 minute conference, Fr. Clovis stated, “There used to be a saying, rhetorical, ‘Is the pope Catholic?’ That’s no longer funny.”
He went on to say:
I don’t think that Pope Francis has done anything other than disconcert us. He has literally pulled the rug from under our feet … We are judging not his person or his office but the results of his actions. And, we’re not doing this out of indignation, because what he’s doing is the cause of our indignation and it is a threat to our Faith, and it’s a threat to the Church, and is a danger to the salvation of souls.
As he spoke, Fr. Clovis had in mind the Synod on the Family and widespread predictions of pending doctrinal doom:
We have prominent Cardinals taking an anti-Catholic stance on moral issues, which we thought were settled. We have the Holy Father himself seeming to support them, to give his blessing to them.
Fast forward to today.
No longer can it be said that Francis only seems to support an anti-Catholic stance on moral issues, he has taken just such a stance in Amoris Laetitia.
This being the case, one may reasonably have expected Fr. Clovis to express even greater indignation now that the threat to our Faith and danger to the salvation of souls has formally arrived in the form of an exhortation addressed to the entire Church.
Instead, what we got was more Burkean pusillanimous posturing.
To be fair, Fr. Clovis’ essay does have more teeth than the one issued by Cardinal Burke, which is kind of like saying it has a slightly sharper bite than Moms Mabley with her dentures on the nightstand, but still…
For instance, Fr. Clovis states:
AL not only glosses over of the seriousness of sins against chastity but also gives a strong emphasis to the role of the individual conscience in sexual matters without any corresponding affirmation of the duty of forming one’s conscience in accordance with the Church’s magisterium.
The most controversial issue, however, is the exceptions being made for some of those living in irregular sexual relationship to approach the sacraments without due amendment of life. Here it seems that AL has departed from the Church’s clear bimillennial teaching as found in Scripture and Tradition, as has been confirmed by numerous popes, including St John Paul II and as is articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law.
It seems to depart? He can’t be serious. Any honest reading of the document leaves no room for confusion; Amoris Laetitia takes a sledgehammer to Catholic teaching.
And yet, Fr. Clovis says that the “nuances, implications and applications” of the document “will require time, study and prayerful reflection in order to unravel all of its implications.”
This is rather like pondering the application of fire to gasoline in a hay barn; only an idiot can fail to grasp the implications.
No, I take that back. In this case, even the idiots among us know what Amoris Laetitia represents and what it will bring. (Don’t believe me? Just ask the editorial team at America Magazine.)
For the most part, Fr. Clovis’ take on Amoris Laetitia comes straight from the Burke School. He tells us:
In practical terms and, indeed, in line with Pope Benedict XVI’s hermeneutic of continuity, this means that AL must be understood and interpreted in light of previous magisterial teachings.
This is typical of today’s neo-Catholic castrati who think that “holding fast to tradition” in the face of the Bergoglian Deception means looking for guidance from the pre-Franciscan popes who dedicated their entire pontificates to spreading the Council’s poison.
If only the Burkeans, Fr. Clovis included, would act on their own advice and take a good hard look at what is revealed when one shines the light of immutable Catholic doctrine on Amoris Laetitia!
If they really had the wherewithal to do so, they would have no choice but to declare that it contains heresy and blasphemy. No other “interpretation” is possible!
Fr. Clovis does manage to deliver a plea to “fight in defence of the faith handed on once and for all,” but thanks to the example that he himself provided, it rings utterly anemic:
It seems to me that we ought to remain calm and take the sagacious advice of St Paul of simply following the well established Catholic rule of holding fast to what we have received and always believed.
Boy, when the shooting stars fall, they sure fall hard, don’t they?
Rather than engaging the threat to our Faith that is Francis; Fr. Clovis is taking a page out of the Bergoglian Book of Quasi-Biblical Bunkum; that is, the art of offering highly selective Scripture citations and then twisting them to say whatever he wants.
Let’s be clear: The aforementioned “sagacious advice” from St. Paul was truly much more than that; it was a clear-cut directive for those who wish to remain Catholic even though “the mystery of iniquity is already at work.” (cf 2 Thes. 2)
Furthermore, St. Paul didn’t counsel the Thessalonians to “remain calm” in the face of open attacks against immutable doctrine; rather, he cautioned them “not to be easily moved from their senses or frightened” (ibid.) to the point of actually believing the word of those who might seek to deceive them. There’s a difference.
The fact of the matter is St. Paul himself never remained calm in the face of affronts to the truths of the Gospel and its application in daily life.
But when Cephas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. (Eph. 2:11)
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. (Gal 1:8)
May Fr. Linus Clovis and others cut from Burkean cloth be granted the grace, not only to quote St. Paul accurately, but to emulate his zeal in defending the Faith.
It’s like saying we must read 2+2=5 in light of 2+2=4.
We can expect no less from anyone who accepts the Novus Ordo and Vatican II, hermenutic of continuity or no hermenutic of continuity.
Any word yet from Bishop Schneider? Maybe he’ll suggest a syllabus of errors of Amoris Laetitia.
Here is a very powerful sermon on this topic entitled “Peter has no need of our lies and flattery”.
http://www.reginaprophetarum.org/#/
If you are disappointed in Father Clovis, you won’t be disappointed in this sermon given by a Traditional Catholic priest.
We need more like him.
Schneider has already fired a long lengthy salvo. It sounds good so far but we’re still waiting on a translation.
http://www.onepeterfive.com/on-exhortation-bishop-schneider-says-a-veritatis-laetitia-is-needed/
PLEASE SIGN PETITION TO BOYCOTT TARGET UNTIL THEY PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THEIR BATHROOMS BY NOT ALLOWING MEN INTO THE WOMEN’S BATHROOM! PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW! IT IS TIME TO STAND UP TO THIS MADNESS!!!
https://www.afa.net/action-alerts/sign-the-boycott-target-pledge/
Thank you for the reminder, homeschoolmom.
Does anyone remember the saying: “The consumer is king, if only he knew it!!”
Target needs us. We don’t need them.
All this, including the bathroom issues at Target, the changing of the mass and all those horrendous Vatican 2 issues which I am no expert at hashing through, are a direct result of the disobedience of all the Popes since Fatima in their refusal to consecrate Russia to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. It’s that simple. Everything has gone completely haywire as a result of this outright refusal of the most important man in the world, the pope. We were warned by God through Our Lady. We get what we deserve. Every man for himself now.
Louie,
Here’s another star. Instead of a fizzle, have you seen the end of the movie Dragonheart?
+Schneider has spoken:
Italian – http://www.corrispondenzaromana.it/amoris-laetitia-chiarire-per-evitare-una-confusione-generale/ –
English – https://vericatholici.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/bishop-athanasius-schneider-speaks-on-amoris-laetitia/
Sure. But know that’s it’s not at all about the .0000000001 percent of the population with that “transexual” sickness. It’s about all of us accepting sin and sickness as good and normal. It’s the supernatural battle against Sanctifying Grace that’s being waged.
I almost don’t like the “it’s dangerous” argument. That’s secondary to the real purpose of this thing.
“No, I take that back. In this case, even the idiots among us know what Amoris Laetitia represents and what it will bring. (Don’t believe me? Just ask the editorial team at America Magazine.)”
–
I just watched the idiotic you tube video —– You have made your point!
—
How disheartening that Fr. Clovis would speak this way. Yet when he speaks about “St. John Paul II” and about the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” why would we expect anything else?
“e recently published Apostolic Exhortation « Amoris Laetitia » (hereafter abbreviated AL), which contains a great spiritual treasure for Christian life in matrimony and family for our age, has unfortunately in short order provoked contradictory interpretations even among the episcopate.”
Are you freaking kidding me???
Spineless jellyfish dish rags all.
CraigV: … Don’t go off half-cocked. I suggest you take a breath, pour a glass of milk and read the 6,000 words.
Servant of Our Lady, I just watched that youtube video of America Magazine that Louie posted above. I think seeing that was a wake up call for me to how very wacked out all this is. It’s cultish. Even that fast paced corny electronic music in the background. I am not sure if it was for real, or a Saturday Night Live skit about AL or what!?! It’s just remarkable if it’s for real. So, I guess if it is real, then these guys in the video are in charge of explaining the faith-. I don’t even know if that qualifies as an even far out, wacked out religion. What a jumbled mess. How could they take themselves so seriously? So sad. Thank goodness for the consistency of the annoying an corny background music. It just goes to show that hardly anyone knows their faith and anything DOES go. When will this all come crashing down? God is REALLY punishing us. It hurts.
I DO realize that they are only stating very clearly what the Pope has already said.
Oh well, just another example of a priest crippled from the NMH Sindrome aka
“No Male Hormones”
Yeah. This stuff has got me extremely upset and I responded way to fast.
But I don’t care what the rest of the 6000 words are. The bishop forfeited all credibility with the first paragraph.
Look, I read his words systematically taking apart the mid term report. This exhortation is all that and and more…and it’s suddenly a “beautiful treasure” with only a possibility of being interpreted wrongly? That is not logically consistent and is beyond believable. Either he was blowing smoke earlier or he is now.
Louie, (and Craig V)
I just finished reading Bishop Schneider’s entire 6000 word analysis of “Amoris”, and highly encourage you and all your other readers to do likewise.
Craig, it’s well worth getting past his praising the truths that ARE in it- because he immediately proceeds to meticulously dissect the rest of it, zeroing in on it’s numerous errors, and literally stomping all over them, -including Gnosticism, Lutheran heresy, and the fact that only living in the Truth, can bring lasting joy-in a way we haven’t seen anyone do in far too long.
He makes very clear that Doctrine, preserved over 2000 years, overrules any possibility of there being ANY “exceptions” in the case of adultery, that would NOT demand complete renunciation of the grevious sin of sex outside of valid marriage” -before any valid reception of the Sacraments (including Confession)are possible.
He also bemoans the harm this idea of exceptions engenders- deluding souls into remaining in serious sin; and he reminds everyone that the Pope is subject to God’s laws:
writing, “no human authority could say: “in some exceptional cases or for a good purpose, you can commit adultery”.
“If the Church would admit these persons, even in only 1 case, to Holy Communion, She would contradict what She professes in doctrine, offering Herself a public contra-testimony to the indissolubility of Matrimony and contributing in this wise to the growth of “the plague of divorce” (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, n 47).
Further into it, he addresses how good statements of truth are overwhelmed by the evil left unrenounced in any document by writing:
‘The servile and politically correct are causing a pernicious evil in the life of the Church. The famous bishop and theologian of the Council of Trent, Melchior
Cano, O.P., pronounced this memorable phrase: “Peter has not need of our lies and adulations. Those who, with closed eyes and in an indiscriminate manner defend every
decision of the Supreme Pontiff, are those who compromise most of all the authority of the Holy See. These are destroying Her foundations rather than strengthening them.”
These and the many other memorable truths he states, make this response of Bishop Schneider something for which I personally right now, am giving thanks to God.
And you’ve got MH? Where’s the proof?
Should the Church meet the people where they are or should the people meet the Church where She is?
I am waiting for one of our prelates to use the word “Heresy”. Does anyone here know if any one of “our shining stars” has used this word? Questioning what the Pope says while allowing him to do his damage does not make one “a shining star”. He must be labeled for what he is—a Heretic!
Louie, you’ve jumped the gun on this one. Knowing Fr personally, I’d say that his “star” is far from fizzled out. Yes, it would be great to see priests, Bishops and Cardinals shouting from the dome top, “heresy”, “blasphemy” and whatever else is appropriate. And necessary. Looking at Fr Clovis response, it is clear that he has not completed studying, praying and reflecting on the document. When he has, he will undoubtedly speak further.
In Fr’s homily tonight, he referred back to the garden of eden with what is currently being proposed, asking whether we are going to listen to the serpent or to God? Fr reaffirmed the need to stick to Tradition.
p.s. In light of what you’ve written here Louie, I will ask Fr for clarification on certain aspects esp the quote from St Paul.
This morning’s (April 26) article about Bishop Schneider’s response (with a link to an English translation). God bless Bishop Schneider. He’s apparently in a league of his own.
https://mundabor.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/athanasius-contra-mundum-again/
English translation:
https://vericatholici.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/bishop-athanasius-schneider-speaks-on-amoris-laetitia/
Exactly. In all of his 6000 word essay, did Schneider once call francis the heretic that he truly is, or warn all Catholics to avoid the “teachings” and words of francis like the plague? No, he didnt. Of course, if he did, then there would be the huge problem of “how can you denounce a pope like that?”.
So basically he called francis “the serpant”?
That video was deplorable in every way…..and that first “priest”, good grief; talk about your typical effeminate vatican 2 company man.
I doubt archbishop Cupich needs to read beyond the first paragraph. Francis will punt AL to the bishops and look the other way. Leaving out the first paragraph Bishop Scneider’s becomes much stronger IMHO.
My2cents
Thanks for the link iv heard this priest a few times on video sancto. do you know his name and is he a priest of the FFSP ?
I think it is this priest:
http://www.excerptsofinri.com/frcollins-ewtn.html
In the past I watched him on EWTN. He had his own program on that station called “Does the Church still Teach That”? I remember about 10 years ago watching him, with my eyes wide open in awe, as he spoke of the antichrist. I had never heard of anyone (at that time in my life) speak of the antichrist, and on EWTN!
I was impressed with his explanation of Catholic truths, which I now know were nothing more than traditional Catholicism (aka Catholicism).
I have noticed that he has grown in his understanding of the crisis, as we all have. May God reward him …… in this life and the next.
Our Lady of Good Success, pray for us.
I tried so hard to ignore the “fast paced corny electronic in the background” that I missed the importance that it does play in this piece of idiocy.
It does present a “cult-like” mentality.
Thank you for pointing out these details, Cortez. I missed them first time around —– Though I could not bear watching it all the way through the second time around.
I never understand the argument of interpreting in light of Tradition. Why interpret such an obviously heterodox document at all? We should just discard it.
pmills123—we could discard it, but the world and the modernists inside the church won’t discard it. They will ride it like a train going full speed ahead—until it comes to a crashing end leaving many souls in ruin. That’s the scary part.
Patrick Archbold wrote an article at the Remnant saying basically the same thing. You can spend months dissecting it, you can point out here and there where it may follow Catholic teaching, you can read it in the “light of tradition”, you can wait for francis’ excuse-makers to tell you that “he didnt change Catholic Dogma”, etc, etc, etc. The bottom line is the document, in its entirety, is not of the Catholic Church.
I guess its beneficial for the willfully ignorant Catholic (or the Catholic who is actually trying to learn but doesnt yet know any better) in getting a detailed account of the document so as to see how evil this guy really is, but those of us in the know really shouldnt need that. Basically, if francis has anything to do with something just toss it out with the rest of the trash.
Yes, Rich, that’s EXACTLY what I was trying to say a few posts ago when we got into it a little. I was saying that AL doesn’t apply to me – I’m Catholic. It’s just not Catholic teaching so just dicard of it! Not my religion.
I love you, Louie. But I think you’re jumping the gun on criticism of those we have seen as our last hope not responding immediately and with as much anger as we have. I greatly appreciate Bishop Schneider’s comments. But I think it is an error to be angry that the “rest” have not immediately criticized this obviously heretical document…and I include Cardinal Burke who released a “buying time” response immediately as well. Why nothing from Sarah? Why nothing from Muller? Are they failing us also? I don’t think so.
What about the entire book at the time of the first synod? What about the entire book during the second synod? What about the entire book from the African bishops? I’m not suggesting “we” can wait that long so as to let heresy get a foothold, especially among confused clergy.
But I am quite confident there is an organized, thorough, cogent and compelling response/effort in the works–aimed as it should be at faithful clergy and laity. THOSE are the ones who need to be reminded, converted, convinced that their salvation rests is dogma and tradition, not the ranting secularist, modernist Peronist who sees religion–any religion–as nothing more than a vehicle for social work which ends with temporal life.
Do people here really think those cardinals and bishops don’t recognize their duty to save souls in all ways possible? I know–I wish they would validate my anger by speaking out loudly now. That’s what cognitive dissonance is all about. I want to see them be as angry as I am. But that, I have come to believe, is short-sighted and, frankly, too focused on ourselves. This will all happen in God’s good time.
Rich, it is understood that in not a few diocese, divorced and remarried are receiving Our Blessed Lord unworthily. Fr has spoken many times of the passage, removed from the NO, of the need to examine oneself prior to worthy reception as spoken by St Paul. It is painfully obvious that many, many members of the hierarchy who should know better, in fact are inexucasable, are promoters of this practice. As it was then in Eden “Did God really say that…”, so it is today “Did Jesus really say that….” in relation to d&r. Thus any promoters of this sinful practice are indeed following a similar pattern of not listening to and obeying God. It is clear that they do not believe-they have no faith. Simply, as is obvious, listening to the serpent. To answer your question, Fr did not state what you’ve asked. Just a further point; Fr has also mentioned that there needs to be clarification from Rome-a similar request made by Bp Schneider who has also spoken of holding fast to Tradition. Why? Because it seems to him (the Bp) that there are problems (putting it mildly) with the document, hence the need for clarification.
Ave Maria! I largely tend to agree with ‘tradprofessor’, I believe we need to recognise that there are many people fighting for the Truth for our Catholic faith. On different levels, in different ways, which may not conform to our ideal and the way in which we want them to fight. I have been following Fr Linus and he has given a subsequent talk which might as well be called the ‘Francis Effect 2’ here’s the link
https://soundcloud.com/user-214467772/francis-a-pope-for-our-time
This talk didn’t attract as much media attention, probably because of the organisers, venue and audience. We should recognise that we aren’t privy to a lot that goes on. Perhaps we should build a traditional united front rather than in some cases making hasty judgements for those who are fighting from the same corner as us… Then again perhaps each case needs to be weighted on it’s own merits.
In any case there’s a good few homilies from him in the link below..
https://soundcloud.com/user-214467772
In the Immaculate
Fr Clovis is not a priest of the PFFP. He is attached to the Diocese of St Lucia in the West Indies. He is of the indigenous people of those Islands and mixed race.He has several degrees from the Roman Universities. He comes from a large Catholic family, His father lives in England, one of his nephews is to be Ordained to the priesthood, I believe this year. Linus was named by his father (whose name I do not ). That man is in his 90’s, still active in beekeeping and keeping his faith. Linus was born on the feast day of St Padre Pio. The Clovis family are CATHOLICS. Louie, if you knew Fr Clovis personally, you might withdraw the blunt instrument and the other demeaning analogies referred to in your text.
IF the Holy priest, and he is Holy, that I can vouche for, read you column, I know he would smile.
He came to New Zealand in his FLI role several years running, and learned to his disgust, aspects of the traitors for Tradition lead by Popes Nikita Roncalli onwards as reported by Rev Fr Villa, and sponsored by St Padre Pio, Cardinal Ottiavani and others. You should familiarise yourself with Chiesa Viva website and the writings of Dr Franco Adessa.
These are men who know what to write about and record their findings on deception, heresy, blasphemy and the other deadly sins to confirm the lambs in their confusions imposed from the DOME at ROME
As for being a “shining Star” Fr Cloves’ humility, I suspect would not allow him to comment.
He is devoted to Our Lady, She of course is clothed in the Sun, 12 Stars surround her. She is our only Help.
All too often we sinners, wish upon “stars” like Disney devotees, children, babes in the woods.
Give Fr Clovis time to produce good fruit, listen to some of his sermons, like the ones he gave in Te Atatu New Zealand on these Latter Days the “times like Noah, where the people of the earth wined and dined and were given in marriage (multiple marrieds its seems all approved by the Elders of the people Jorge?)…and so on ” and you might find Fr Clovis has a depth of research material, to which I and others here, handed him even more material.
My point is until you KNOW the man you attack, its unwise to contemplate ridicule as a device to stimulate debate.
Fr Clovis ordained by JP2 just one of many holy priests, who love Our Lord with whole heart, whole soul and his neighbours’ as we have been so instructed, is in my opinion, like so many men and women who have devoted their lives to Christ crucified.
They could find themselves like walking in a mine field, blindfolded, realising the snares set by prelates, they once obeyed were in fact the sowers of the darnel/cockle crop.
So, without putting too fine a point on it, those who receive the Grace to retract their steps out of harms way to their former homeland pre 1958, wear the blindfold for decoration purposes, carefully disengaging with prelates as Fr Clovis might recite…Deprofundus..I have cried out to your Lord”
Louie, read between the lines, ponder; what you would do..NOT what you would say, given that you changed places with Fr Clovis today.
He goes on Pilgrimage to Fatima and many other Holy sites in May 2017 this year: I suggest you meet the man personally and ask him face to face, all of your misgivings about him, could be improved.
And by the way he conducts Confessions in a special way. Go find out.