Let’s be clear: Amoris Laetitia has nothing whatsoever to do with “the joy of love.”
The overwhelming majority of the roughly 58,000 word text is truly nothing more than window dressing for its true intent; namely, opening the way to Holy Communion for those who persist in objective grave sin.
How do we know this?
Francis told us.
He said that “there are no other interpretations” of Amoris Laetitia than the one given in a directive recently produced by the bishops of Buenos Aires.
According to this directive, with respect to those who persist in an adulterous relationship via a civil marriage following divorce:
Amoris Laetitia opens up the possibility of access to the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist (cf. AL notes 336 and 351).
By what mechanism does Amoris Laetitia propose to open up this possibility?
According to the Buenos Aires bishops (and likewise to Francis), the sacraments can be made accessible by a “journey of discernment” whereby the couple, accompanied by their pastor, come to recognize that they are not fully culpable for the grave sin of adultery.
In other words, that which is an objective mortal sin (adultery) can thereby be reduced to an offense merely “venial” in nature.
This proposition rests on either one, or both, of two assumptions:
One, a pastor can judge the interior disposition of another person’s soul, and two, individuals can act as their own judge; in both cases, in such way as to effectively exonerate the individual of the consequences of objective grave sin.
If these assumptions are false, Amoris Laetitia, of which “there are no other interpretations,” cannot possibly stand.
This, my friends, is the nitty gritty of the entire affair (no pun intended).
Yes, I know… “aka Catholics” like us, who stand firm on the witness of tradition, understand perfectly well that these assumptions are false.
I have little doubt that many neo-Catholics recognize them as repulsive as well; even if only on a gut level, but their misguided allegiance to le pape du jour (the pope of whatever day they happen to live in) and his every last utterance has landed them squarely in a rather serious dilemma.
But alas, there may be hope…
I recently had occasion to discuss Amoris Laetitia with a personal friend (a Novus Ordo priest) who also happens to be a fairly well known and highly regarded moral theologian. I asked him where one might find a concise principle of moral theology that could be cited to dispel this “journey of discernment” notion.
His answer?
It seems to me that the quotation from Gaudium et Spes 28 [quoted in one of my recent posts] is itself the concise principle of moral theology that could be cited to this end … for it gives the Church’s understanding of the reason why the Lord commands us not to judge (and it even cites the relevant Scripture texts in its note 11).
Specifically, Gaudium et Spes 28 states:
“God alone is the judge and searcher of hearts, for that reason He forbids us to make judgments about the internal guilt of anyone.” (GS 28)
The bottom line is that mankind has neither the knowledge, nor the right, to judge the internal state of another’s heart; this belongs “to God alone” – no exceptions.
Importantly, this includes making judgments that would effectively acquit one who is, objectively speaking, contravening the Divine Law.
Interesting, is it not, that one of the keys to solving the neo-Catholic dilemma over Amoris Laetitia can be found in the only object of veneration that can compete with le pape du jour for their misguided allegiance – the Second Vatican Council?
Unfortunately, it may be more realistic to believe that the citation from Gaudium et Spes will only serve to double the dilemma for most. Let us pray that’s not the case and it actually opens a few eyes.
In any event, just in case you weren’t already concerned enough about the present state of affairs in Rome, consider:
While it can be said that Francis is simply steering the Church toward the Council’s logical conclusion, he is also, in another sense, boldly steering the Church even beyond the confines of Vatican Council II!
Prayer. Penance. Sacrifice.
Louie, I find it extremely difficult to believe that that N.O. “catholic” church believes in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, this document is no big deal. It’s only bread and wine. Why are you making such a fuss!!!
I was a V2 neo-Catholic until the day Amoris Laetitia came out in April. I had never seen a Tridentine Mass and was only interested in seeing the Novus Ordo done well.
I was certainly on the orthodox side of the neo-Catholic spectrum, readily affirming all traditional Catholic doctrines, opposed even to the notion of religious freedom; I attempted to understand V2 in an orthodox light, and with some mental gymnastics, for the most part, I could, though I thought it was a misguided and pointless council that caused more harm than good.
I tried very hard to reconcile the Catholic faith with the Francis papacy, but I was already at the end of my tether what with his comments about contracepting nuns.
But I can’t begin to explain the distress and sleepless nights that vile, heretical exhortation caused me.
In summary, Amoris Laetitia caused me to abandon what little of the Modernist heresy I had until then espoused.
Pope Francis has, ironically, freed me from the clutches of semi-modernism by demonstrating his heresy and unbelief so clearly that I could no longer deny that the Pope did not, in fact, hold the Catholic Faith, even by Modernist standards. To my neo-Catholic mind, Pope Francis has singlehandedly discredited everything that has happened since V2, and, after many months of agonising, I find that I have awoken from the spell of Modernism and I am now, for the first time in my life, truly Catholic.
“…I could no longer deny that the Pope did not, in fact, hold the Catholic Faith…”
But the Pope is still the Pope and could wake up tomorrow and repent. God is always in charge and is always patient with sinners. Don’t lose your soul by believing that there is no Pope!
Charlie 239, thank you for your comment. I will pass it around to others whose eyes are just now opening. I consider myself in your camp, as I am just, within the last 6 years or so, realizing that we have most all been duped our entire lives by the modernists of Vatican 2. I am so happy for you, even though you are having sleepless nights. This is a Great gift from God! I recently listened to a piece of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s Dolorous passion, which could be heard via youtube, where she spoke of how Jesus’ first desciples were so overcome with the anguish of all that they were allowed by God to understand, that they fell asleep. This was during Our Lord’s agony in the garden. Their anguish was probably way more intense than ours could ever be, but we may feel similar anguish as we are allowed to be aware, at different levels, of the crucifixion which is happening now, of Our Lord’s Bride, His Catholic Church. It is a beautiful thought that God allowed them to experience such anguish. Thank you for sharing. Pray that God reveals more Truth to us when He knows we are ready.
Oh man, speaking of the FrancisChurch, we now finally understand how they feel about Fatima… just have a look at this piece of drivel…
http://www.romereports.com/2016/11/06/just-short-of-pixar-the-new-movie-about-the-fatima-apparitions
I recommend keeping your children as far away from this as possible. There’s no doubt in my mind that their views of the Fatima apparition are as stupid as the cartoon.
Good for you Charlie. Those who comment here know exactly how you feel.
Yes, he could wake up tomorrow and convert (repent); until then though…? During every interregnum that ever took place in the Church there was always a period of time when there was no pope. The world never blew up during any of them.
Interregnum? The Cardinals keep electing Popes and you say there is no Pope. You have your own made up belief system that is not based on reality.
When a pope dies do we have a pope at that second? Its a very simple question.
Are there any true Cardinals left?
“Are there any true Cardinals left?”
A true Cardinal would have to have been appointed by a true Pope, right? The last true Pope was Pius XII, right? Then there are no Cardinals and there is no Pope.
You guys might be brain dead Hindus, but you are definitely not Roman Catholics!
What an encouraging story, charlie239, to know that others eyes are opening to the truth in the midst of this evil. Although it has been painful for me, too, what a gift it is for me to be, as you said, “truly Catholic.”
Wretched movie, Johnno!
Your comments are well said about their sentiments about Fatima.
How evil to sow in the hearts of children the seeds of contempt toward Our Blessed Mother.
TomA
I dont know of any true cardinals. I know for a fact we have some valid bishops though, most notably the SSPX ones in addition to the sede ones. They are all valid.
Rushintuit, in his haste to bust chops, doesnt seem to realize that there are still valid lines of Catholicism out there. Just because Pope Pius XII passed away in 1958 does not in any way mean that there are no valid consecrations and in turn ordinations since then. There are….that is why we have the SSPX.
Thank you for the warning.
I believe in Divine Providence and that God permits evil so that good may come of it. Were it not for this heretical Pope, I myself would still be a heretic, and though my heresy was neither obstinate nor damnable, it could have poisoned my faith and caused me to lose it, so I thank God that he used a bad Pope to open my eyes.
There have been saints who have misjudged who the Pope might be but there have been no saints that rejected the reigning Pope, so I will submit to the Church’s judgement.
Again, thank you for the warning. I am more in danger of losing my soul on account of other sins than those against faith, but I hope, God-willing, with the help of His grace and the sacraments of the Church, to be numbered among those who persevere to the end and die in a state of grace.
Thank you for that – I will listen.
We live in a dangerous time.
It is painful to discover that your shepherd is actually a wolf and that you are even more alone than you thought. It is difficult to reconcile obedience, Jesus’ promise that the gates of hell will not prevail and the modernism all around us. Many people who seek orthodoxy yet who are infected with modernism will either embrace Francis’ humanist parody of Catholicism or lose their faith.
But the gates of hell will not prevail and it is the prayers of those who remain in Christ that will hasten His victory, even if we ourselves spend our lives in the darkness between the Church’s death and resurrection.
May we remain with Christ’s Church just like Our Lady stood by her Son at the crucifixion, and may we, like her, never cease to trust and hope in her Son’s victory.
Rich, with respect, there have been MANY prophecies and warnings about our times by MANY saints, for example Anne Catherine Emmerich, and even by Our Blessed Mother, none of them that I know of, said anything about us having NO POPE, and some of these prophecies are pretty descriptive.Do you know of any? If so, could you please tell me?
Thank you for telling us of your journey Charlie239. I’m glad you have escaped the neoCatholic orientation. It is another disordered orientation yet the catechism doesn’t yet define it. 😉
The strongest of us have our self doubts. When most prelates are silent on the abomination of Amoris Laetitia one wonders if one is indeed wearing a tin-foil hat. But no! We are not! Despite zero support from our shepherds, save two or three, we hear the voice of The One True Shepherd.
Thank you, Mr. V., for saying so well what needs said – and repeated often. We cannot judge another’s heart. One of the things I learned in Law Enforcement was that people often are convinced that a certain party is guilty, but then are surprised to learn by the evidence that the crime was committed by someone else.
I am not making a statement about Pope Francis. I read your articles because they are very much in line with how things appear to me. And while we cannot read hearts, we can know them by their fruits. God’s word tells us this, too.
I can’t remember if it was the late Fr. John Hardon who told of a gathering of traditionalist priests and was asked how it went. Maybe someone here can tell it better. But the comment was that he saw much reverence but very little humility.
I am learning that even if I can do all the right actions with the utmost reverence, they have no value if I do not love and have humility.
God bless you and your family, you remain in my prayers.
Sounds like we have a lot in common, Charlie. I believe Pope Francis is “pope” to do just what you have described. He forced you to open your eyes to Truth. I like to think of him as the “fence” that is dividing those who are serious about serving the Lord Jesus Christ and those who are Catholic in name only. If this is the reason God has allowed him to sit on the throne of Peter, it seems to be working. Welcome, friend.
Hallelu, Hallelu, Everybody sing Hallelu!
Brain Dead Hindus are bustin’ through!
Hallelu, Hallelu, Everybody sing Hallelu!
Not everyone knows some Bishops are true!
Everybody sing, Hallelu!
I support Fatima with all my heart as well as Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich. I also know that it is impossible for a non-Catholic to be a pope. I am not trying to sway you one way or the other. I know that it is an impossibility for a non-Catholic to be a Catholic pope. Christ promised us His Church, which would never fail, (and we have our Church); Christ never promised us continuous valid Catholic Popes.
You said, “Promised His Church would never fail”…YES impossible. Neither could Jesus Christ fail. Of course His crucifixion was not a sign of failure. Neither is His Catholic Church, as she is being crucified. I Love our unfailable Church. I despise The wicked ones who crucify Her. I think we’re on the same page. All I could do is be here though in the midst of it. I oftentimes have great urges to lop off an ear of those who abuse Her. For now all I could do is be here and not run. I guess I will try to imitate John, the only one of the desciples who stayed at the foot of the cross. I will, like him, stand there close to Our Mother whom Our Lord gave us especially for strength in times like these. Our Church is undergoing Her own crucifixion. Where are you?
I do, Rich, respect much of what you say here.
Some details are even worse!
From this article:
http://www.agencia.ecclesia.pt/noticias/nacional/igrejacinema-filme-de-animacao-portugues-sobre-fatima-quer-ter-voz-do-papa/
Using Google Translate we discover some details:
– Pope Francis will appear as a CG character in the film, and the creators are hoping he’ll be able to lend his own voice to it.
– There is emphasis that Christians, Muslims and Jews are working together on the music of the film.
– The Shepherd Children of Fatima will be portrayed as ‘contemporary kids.’
– The film will feature Pope Francis’ own ‘Marian sayings.’ (Does this include “Lies! I was deceived?”)
– Film is “suprareligious” “not just for Catholics”???
– The 3 secrets will appear in a “fun way” alongside the “Marian Popes.”