The Holy See has published the Lineamenta (preparatory document) for the Ordinary Synod of Bishops that will take place next October, and it includes yet another questionnaire.
Quoting from the Relatio Synodi published at the end of the Extraordinary Synod, we are assured:
… in the collegial journey of the bishops and with the involvement of all God’s people, the Holy Spirit will guide us in finding the road to truth and mercy for all.
Praise God!
It’s about time we plotted a course along that long sought-after path which has lain hidden from humanity’s sight in spite of the best efforts of the Saints, the Doctors of the Church, and every Holy Roman Pontiff who happened to have had the misfortune of reigning prior to Pope John XXIII.
As for “all of God’s people” who will be invited to help the Synod find its way, I would remind those of you with a short memory that this really means homo-sympathizers, adulterers, and perhaps an over-sexed senior citizen or two.
The Lineamenta prefaces the questions with the following statement of purpose [emphasis added]:
The proposed questions which follow and the reference numbers to the paragraphs in the Relatio Synodi are intended to assist the bishops’ conferences in their reflection and to avoid, in their responses, a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine, which would not respect the conclusions of the Extraordinary Synodal Assembly and would lead their reflection far from the path already indicated.
Well, no one can say that the revolutionaries have hidden their real agenda from sight! In the space of this solitary sentence we are given two crucial pieces of information (in reverse order):
First, the “path already indicated” is NOT based on “an application of doctrine,” and secondly, we’ve been put on notice; the Ordinary Synod is going to do its damnedest to “avoid” applying the doctrine going forward.
This isn’t just the language of revolution; it’s the language of revolutionaries who are convinced of their ability to prevail. Buckle up.
Dear Louie,
You say they instruct participants:
–“to avoid, in their responses, a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine, which would not respect the conclusions of the Extraordinary Synodal Assembly, and would lead their reflection far from the path already indicated.”
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Well, THAT makes it even easir for the Faithful to know with certainty- what the mandate of Christ is for Round II: Just reverse it—to read:
— “Seek a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine- which respects God and His unchanging Revealed Truths, rather than all those who would disregard or fundamentally alter them. LEAD them as far as possible from that path– already indicated.”
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This revised version (of course), is right in line with what Cardinal Burke publicly emphasized before the first session ever began, warning:
“Certainly, the culture is extremely confused and in great error.” “This extends also to the interior of the Church.”
–“It’s very important at this time, to show the splendor of the truth of the Church’s teaching.”
–“If we don’t get it correct about marriage, there’s very little else that we’re going to be clear about.”
— “It simply makes no sense to talk about mercy which doesn’t respect truth. How can that be merciful?” and:
–“To the degree that all of it is solidly grounded in the Church’s teaching AND her discipline, I believe it will be very positive”
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God Speed Cardinal Burke, and all who clarify His will for His Church, and protect us from those whose ideas are harmful.
Our Church has truly, truly been highjacked. The wolves have clearly done away with their annoying sheep’s clothing. No need to hide anymore when one has got well over half of the hierarchy supporting the progressivist agenda. Even after all of these continuous public outrages against Catholic doctrine I still can’t believe this is happening. Buckle up? I think I would prefer to jump out of this out of control high speed train to hell.
Almost from the very beginning of the Bergoglio papacy, I have referred to Francis as Pope Chip Chip. He has been chipping away at everything “Catholic” and creating a new church totally unrecognizable. Our Lord founded His Church on the Rock of Peter. Bergoglio is chipping away at this Rock hoping to turn it into a Church built on sand. He will not win. Our Lord has assured us of this. Long Live Christ the King!
Amen!
We’re already lost from the looks of it, just the mere adoption of modernist vague words to replace the precise words of sin has been enough to taint the truth –
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Saying and Unsaying: The Synod’s Orwellian Atmosphere
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/12/saying-and-unsaying-synods-orwellian.html
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“There are words that signify realities as they are, and there are words that deliberately obscure them. “Living in sin” clearly states that an unmarried man and woman who sleep together are guilty of offending God and harming one another; “cohabitation” is a neutral description that passes no judgment and seems to imply that no judgment can be made. “Concubine” or “paramour” tells us frankly what we are dealing with; “marriage partner” does not. “Adulterous union” calls a spade a spade; with its legal sound, “civil remarriage” decorously papers over the serial polygamy. That Vatican documents should have been besmirched with such “value-neutral” language is a powerful sign of the triumph of factions over fidelity, power over truth, Orwellian thought-control over the liberty of the sons of God.
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Should we be surprised? The same thing has happened in the liturgical sphere: instead of the “celebrant,” we speak of the “presider”; instead of the “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,” we call it “Eucharist”; instead of “Introit” there is “the opening song.” The novel terms are not false in themselves, but they stem from an ideology that wishes to avoid the traditional language. There are many such examples, all tending in the same direction. Now, more than ever, we must heed the warning of Josef Pieper, who in his little book Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power reminds us that whoever controls language controls reality—a lesson also understood by George Orwell, even if his intuition did not lead him to adore the Logos who alone gives meaning to human speech and reason.
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The common denominator between the liturgical reform and the Synod is accommodationism: the view that it is the Church’s business to adapt herself—her worship, her doctrine, her discipline—to “modern man.” That’s exactly what Church leaders today are endeavoring to do, with results that all can see.”
Oh sure… ultimately he won’t win… but that’s little cause for celebration, given that he and his kind are surely going to take us down with him.
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It’s great and all and a complete given that the Church will triumph… the key word being… ‘ultimately’… but that’s little comfort for me who wants to save others I love here and now and for which the current churchmen make it entirely difficult.
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They won’t ever bring the Church down in the end. But here and now they are destroying lives and souls. This is my problem, and why I entirely hate how many people shrug the current going-ons and tell me “Don’t worry, be Happy’ because the Church will ultimately triumph in the end. I’m not at all worried for the Church, I’m worry and weep for myself and those around me.
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Hope for the ultimate triumphant end is one thing. Hope for the present situation is entirely another thing, and it’s running out for me I fear… It can only get worse before it gets better, and a part of me knows that it must be this way, O Lord, grant me strength to endure Your just and deserving punishment, and have mercy on those I love…
Dear Johnno,
Your words are heartfelt and much appreciated. We also have many loved ones who have fallen prey to this “false church within the True one” as we see it. There is a kind of day-and-night agony over that, which we figure is the same reason Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
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But while, there’s no cause for a victory-celebration in their regard, yet- it helps us to remember we are taking part in one at every Mass, and with every mental rejection of despair we make because of our Faith. Jesus has already overcome the powers of Hell, and established His Church that will never be overcome.
-Everything the Devil was allowed to do to Him, was offered to God — not for any reparations He owed, but entirely for all who will ever accept Salvation-bought and paid for by His many sacrifices, especially the shedding of his blood.
– Our Good Shepherd wants no one-including our loved ones, to remain lost. He is going after them, and asks for our help-partly by offering now, as He did–everything the Devil is allowed to throw at us -which includes what he can do from within the Church right now. Our prayers and sacrifices are adding more Graces to those He freely gives people, which they may choose to reject, but with increasing difficulty, due to those Graces.
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Our united united efforts can multiply those far beyond what any of us could do alone. So if you pray with us for your loved ones and ours, and for all the others we know to be in similar circumstances right now, THAT unity of Faith and action, is definitely something to celebrate- internally. It brings a joy that overcomes our temporary sorrows, because it’s the keeping of Jesus’ command: to “Love one another, as I have loved you.” and is more powerful than anything the Devil has in his arsenal.
Our cause for hope, even now.
Johnno–Of course, I agree with you. Knowing that Christ’s Church will ultimately survive (even if it be just a remnant), does not mean we should accept this crisis without fighting for our faith and our Church. I realize my post gave the impression that we could only sit back and allow history to “take its course”. The reign of Christ the King is not only for the end times. It is for Now and Forever. How many souls will fall into hell because those who are supposed to be our shepherds have gone astray? We owe it to our children, grandchildren and future generations to take action in any way we can. I appreciate your heartfelt post and agree wholeheartedly. God bless you.
And speaking of revolts, (or revolting), Cardinal Aviz released the results of the Vatican study into the U.S. women’s religious orders. Characterized as “mending fences”, it did not sound like the previous report from the CDF. To quote the last paragraph of the NCR(eporter; aka Fishwrap),: “There are more important things for nuns to continue to do with full energy: work for justice for the poor; combat racism, sexism and homophobia; save the planet from the ravages of climate change; improve interfaith relations; work to bring peace to the world. Nuns are leaders in all these areas; they don’t need any more distractions from these works — from the Vatican or elsewhere.”
-Nuff said.
Johnno, these are certainly times of great trials, but also times of great grace. Because the visible Church can be so apparently unfaithful, I believe God gives greater graces to help us (and our loved ones!) through it. Keep praying for help for each individual loved one and ask God to help you be instrumental in showing them the truths of the unchanging, timeless Church, despite the people temporarily in control. I believe God is helping my family in that way, and I know He can do the same for your loved ones. Just don’t give up the holy virtue of hope!
One liberal magazine -that quotes Charles Curran bashing the Church for not approving artificial birth-control, sums up the current situation like this:
-The Pope..” has until October 2015, when the next Synod of Bishops will convene, to decide on such things as the semantics of “welcoming” as opposed to “providing for” gay Catholics. And between now and then, one of the ripping political narratives of the day will continue, as the old guard cardinals push back against a pope many of them wish had never been elected.”
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This points out to us all- the greatest benefit of having an Jorge as Pope.
We’re finding we have an “old guard”, and who is part of it and willing to “push back”.
Yes, Johnno. You speak the appalling truth. People making excuses for not responding to the terrible crisis is rife and sickening – the bad are all full of zeal, and the good seem to be tranquilised beyond reason. Lord, give us fortitude to uphold the truth despite the persecution from without and, worse, from within the visible hierarchy of the Church itself. Let us support one another – we are but a tiny remnant. Despised, as Our Lord was despised.
Thank you for the replies everyone. I’ve come to remember that nobody wants the people I love saved more than God Himself, and still He died for us knowing how few would benefit from it. So I have no excuse to give in to despair. Thank you.