For those who, surprisingly, can’t quite get their hands around Saturday’s post… This isn’t real complicated.
There isn’t a “conservative” Catholic commentator alive who hasn’t publicly confronted the notion that political leaders who promote abortion-on-demand are to be esteemed as champions of “human dignity… non-violence, reconciliation and truth … justice and the common good” as the Church understands them, and they do so for the simple reason that this bastardization of Catholic social doctrine represents a grave danger, not just for society, but for the individual faithful who support such politicians.
Karl Keating is just one such person among many. Catholic Answers can be applauded for producing a Catholic Voter’s Guide and for offering articles and programs aimed at setting the record straight on the “seamless garment” mentality that, here in the United States, has led to election after election wherein the majority of self-identified Catholics vote pro-death politicians into office.
For example, how many of these conservative voices, certain members of the sacred hierarchy included, have been raised over the years against the Nancy Pelosis of the world for daring to suggest that their political aspirations are worthy expressions of authentic social justice?
Now I ask you, who threatens to lead human society and individual souls away from the truth, apart from which each will perish; the pro-death politicians who disguise themselves as praiseworthy promoters of “human dignity … non-violence, reconciliation and truth … justice and the common good,” or the visible head of the Catholic Church who validates them as such?
The bottom line here should be obvious: Those conservative Catholic voices who position themselves and their apostolates as dedicated to helping good Catholics become better Catholics, and bringing former Catholics back to the Church, and yet remain silent to the grave dangers posed by the hierarchy’s praise for Nelson Mandela, the pope included, invite one to wonder exactly who they are serving; is it Christ, or is it their own self-preservation?
This question is especially valid when said persons are willing to go out of their way to publicly single out the supposed danger posed by traditional Catholic voices, some even going so far as to lobby behind the scenes (albeit in vain) for their demise.
Brilliant!
Has Karl Keating been lobbying for your demise Louie?
Your comment doesn’t follow Pooh Bear. Mr. Verrecchio’s post simply asks a question of voices that are powerful to those who call themselves conservatives–why the deafening silence?
Liberal Catholics wreck the Church and conservative Catholics cling to the wreckage.
There seems to be a blindness among sincere Catholics about criticizing a pope. The ingrained mentality that one must always think and do what the present pope thinks and does blunts the awareness of sincere Catholics to the clearly heretical statements of Bergoglio. One feels like a disloyal Catholic to even raise questions about him. I suspect that conservative columnists know that, if they write critically of Bergoglio, people will shut down and not hear them at all. The present man in power in Rome knows what he is doing when he continually speaks in convoluted fashion. You really have to read critically and with alertness to grasp that the things he is saying outright or implying covertly are foolish, shallow and untrue. ‘The pope must be right.’ prevent seven intelligent people from admitting that the emperor has no clothes. This obtuseness emboldens Bergoglio.
I have a typo above, ‘……..prevents even intelligent people……..(It is in the second to last line)
There is no such thing as a “conservative” anything. You either are something…or you are not. To say one is a “conservative” something is to say that what they “are” comes with a “but”. As in “I am a ‘practicing’ Catholic, but…”
As far as I am concerned, anybody who labels themselves a “Conservative Catholic” is just a big butt.
……When Silence and Complacence are Sins………
Often we have been censured for speaking out against Progressivism in the Church and in revolutionary customs. “You aren’t priests or theologians,” “You aren’t in charge of their formation,” are some comments of critics said to us as a pretext to keep us quiet.
Actually, their argument is futile. Every Catholic has the obligation to denounce error wherever and whenever it appears. St. Gertrude, who received countless revelations from Our Lord, tells us that we have the duty to correct the error, otherwise we sin.
One of the false principles of Liberalism is that one should always attract people by means of smiles and goodness. Progressivism has its false ecumenical movement which pretends that no Catholic should threaten heretics, schismatics, Jews or pagans with the eternal fire of Hell toward which they walk if they do not convert. Both principles are false. Scriptures teach us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
….from St. Bernard……
You know that we are living in a time of chastisement and destruction. … The laws of the land and the laws of Religion no longer have the strength to maintain the customs and stop the triumph of the evil ones. The devil of heresy is seated on the throne of truth. God has cursed His sanctuary.
Christians warriors, these are combats worthy of you, combats that will attract the blessings of earth and Heaven, in which death itself will be for you but another triumph. Illustrious knights, remember the examples of your ancestors who conquered Jerusalem and whose names were inscribed in the Book of Life. Put on the Cross … which will earn you the conquest of the celestial kingdom.
……from St. Gertrude…….
Reading those words, “Where is Abel, your brother?” (Gen 4: 9), St. Gertrude understood that God will ask an account of each religious for the faults that his religious brothers committed against the Rule, because those faults could have been prevented had either the brother at fault or the Abbot been warned. The excuses of some – “I am not in charge of correcting my brother” or “I am worse than him” – will not receive a better welcome by God than those words of Cain, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4: 9).
For, before the Lord each man is obliged to avert his brother from the bad path and exhort him to the good. In this regard, when someone is negligent in listening to the voice of his conscience, he always sins against God. He cannot give the excuse that he does not have the duty to correct his brother, because his conscience is his witness that God is calling him to do so. If he neglects this duty, he will have to give an account for it, and perhaps he more than the superior, who may have been absent or did not notice the fault.
From this comes that threat: “Woe to him who does evil. Woe to him twice who is complacent with it” – Vae faciendi, vae, vae consentienti. It is evident that the one who remains silent about a fault is complacent with it, since a few words from him would suffice to prevent an offense to the glory of God.
…….from Fr. Felix Sardá y Salvany………..
“Supreme Catholic intransigence is nothing but supreme Catholic charity. This supreme charity is practiced in relation to our neighbor when, for his good, the guilty neighbor is crossed, humiliated, upset and chastised.
This supreme charity is practiced in relation to the common good when, to protect another from the contagion of evil, intransigence is used to denounce the promoters of evil, unmasking them as wicked and perverse and holding them up to public contempt, horror and execration. If it is possible, the one exercising intransigence should request the zeal of the public force [police] to contain and punish these evildoers.
Finally, supreme charity is practiced in relation to God when, for His glory and in His service, it becomes necessary for the one exercising intransigence to put aside all human considerations, to trample underfoot all human respect, to sacrifice all human interests, and risk even life itself to attain such a high end.”
False solutions, true solution………
For a new epoch to come, it is necessary that the Devil and his cohorts be defeated, and that good people be purified. These are the reasons for the chastisements predicted at Fatima. What was predicted is a chastisement of cosmic proportions that will cause the disappearance of many nations – the miracle of the sun seems to be a symbol of it. After that punishment, with the few who will survive, the Reign of Mary will start to be built.
So, if one is either concerned about the seriousness of the present day situation or moved by the hope of a new epoch to come, he is invited to accept the false solutions prepared by the Devil that are awaiting him.
The true solution is to be vigilant, reject these false theories, and prepare ourselves patiently for the chastisement and the Reign of Mary. Vigilance, prayer, penance and hope – a great hope for the coming epoch that will vindicate all of Creation and make it worthy to exist for the glory of God, Our Lord.
They are afraid. Nobody wants to lose their job, their social life or the donations via their PayPal button. Cowardice is in flower.
Love your comment CJ–thanks for the laugh:+) And yes, the “conservative” Catholics are being forced to choose sides…to make a stand…Christ or Man…even if that man is a Pope, Cardinal or Bishop. Admonishing the sinner is not reserved just for pagans or laity. If the sinner is a Pope, does he not deserve your mercy and thus your admonishment? Scripture tells us that the Father corrects those He loves. Does the Church establishment media not love Pope Francis? Other souls? And I agree with another poster…there is not such thing as “conservative” Catholic…you are either Catholic i.e. Traditional or you are a poser i.e Liberal, progressive, modernist, heretic. God bless~
…..just a short note…….
The modernists, like the Protestants, have singled out from the Gospels their favorite phrase “Thou shalt not judge.” But they ignore the fact that immediately after, Our Lord said: “Beware of false prophets……by their fruits you shall know them”.
If Christ has commanded to preserve faith, how can we do this without casting a critical eye upon what is given to us to read, to hear?
Archbp. Lefebvre said: “Error is an obstacle to the Holy Ghost. Catholics who feel that radical transformations are taking place have difficulty in standing up against the relentless propaganda they encounter (and which is common to all revolutions). They are told, “You can’t accept change. Yet change is a part of life. You’re static. What was good fifty years ago isn’t suitable to today’s mentality or way of life. You’re hung up on the past. You can’t change your ways!” Many have give in to the reform to avoid this criticism, unable to find an argument against the sneering charge, “You’re reactionary, a dinosaur. You can’t move with times!” The Faith has become a fluid, concept, charity a kind of universal solidarity, and hope is, above all, hope for a better world….If we had to wait to receive an understanding of religious truth before believing and conversion, there would be very few Christians today. We believe the truths of religion because its witnesses are worthy of belief by their holiness, their unselfishness and their charity. As St. Augustine says, ‘faith gives understanding.”
….how many times have I heard such statements from the Catholic Media establishment……..they preach, what they believe!.
MMC said: “And I agree with another poster…there is not such thing as “conservative” Catholic…you are either Catholic i.e. Traditional or you are a poser i.e Liberal, progressive, modernist, heretic. God bless.”
I think we can take this argument to its proper conclusion which is: you are either Catholic or you are not.
So-called conservative Catholics are merely liberal Catholics in slow motion, waiting for a contemporary pope to give them their cues.
It can be helpful to make distinctions and mark gradations among liberals, hence the ‘conservative’ label, however inaccurate it may truly be.
“[W]ho they are serving; is it Christ, or is it their own self-preservation?”
Well, what say you, Karl Keating, and the others at Catholic Answers with their six-figure incomes?
The most amazing acts and statements made by those who claim to be ‘conservative’ Catholics reveals that they are schizophrenic.
One time they are commanding us to support our bishops in the fight against Obamacare and then they lament the fact that donations to Catholic charities run by ecclesiastical masons gives their money to pro-abortion groups, etc.
I’m not even sure they read everything before they comment.
One ‘conservative’ website is criticizing the Catholic commentator who dared to compare Francis with Obama. Then, on the same page, they run a story which at the end proclaims that Francis is suppressing the Latin Mass and is destroying the Franciscan Friars..
Yes, many of them are making important incomes from these sites. And badmouthing Francis certainly dries up their funding.
And to us that is the best thing we can do to them and the hierarchy: dry up their funding.
My own thought is that if the next pontiff is a great defender of the faith the catholic people will turn on him with unbridled fury.
On the other hand, R&R traditionalists do themselves no favour when they claim Bergolo is both a manifest heretic and pope. I noticed nobody really addressed the issue on Louie’s previous blog entry that he references here. Fr. Cekada has summarized Traditional Catholic teaching quite nicely on the topic: http://www.traditionalmass.org/images/articles/TradsInfall.pdf
dymphna and Randall:
I could not agree more with the money and the Catholic celebrity circuit, which is why I find it unfortunate that “Recognize & Resist” traditionalists have created their own version of the EWTN-like celebrity circuit. One in which certain questions dare not be asked, lest one be branded with the scarlet “S”, one’s work quickly vanish from “approved” sources, and one’s money and invitations quickly dry up. Just ask Fr. Paul Kramer.
Steve:
If you think conservative catholics are schizophrenic, just check out Louie’s original post referenced in which the “Recognize & Resist” traditionalists are claiming that Bergolo is at the same time head of the Traditional Roman Catholic Church and the Modernist Vatican II Novus Ordo Church. I know in Mystici Corporis, Pope Pius XII condemned the proposition that the Christ and the Pope were separate heads of the Church, stating the Church was not a two-headed monster. However, these R&R traditionalists are arguing that the Church presently is a two-bodied monster that shares the same head.
“MMC said: “And I agree with another poster…there is not such thing as “conservative” Catholic…you are either Catholic i.e. Traditional or you are a poser i.e Liberal, progressive, modernist, heretic. God bless.”
To which S.Armaticus added: “I think we can take this argument to its proper conclusion which is: you are either Catholic or you are not.”
Okay, so is Pope Bergolo Catholic? Or not?
I still accept Pope Francis as pope — dreadful as he is – until a legitimate and competent Church authority formally declares otherwise. I believe such a decision does not rest with any individual.
Tequila…….your knowledge of the faith is very outstanding, according to you. Your qualifications as an apologist, are impressive, especially, against Catholics such as Louie Verrecchio, SSPX (top on your agenda)……… I heard that Catholic Answers is hiring, you might want to check it out.
Viva Cristo Rey!
Halina:
Interesting how you keep referring back to the SSPX whenever traditional Catholicism is mentioned. It appears that for you any probing question concerning the truth is an attack against the SSPX.
Okay, I’ll bite.
Since others questioned whether the incident was true or simply the liberal media raising a false flag of racism, how is linking to the following video of Bishop Williamson denying the Holocaust an attack against the SSPX?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ3ObrgaWnc
Is this not Bishop Williamson?
Furthermore, Halina, you avoided the question. I did not ask whether Bergolo was Pope. Obviously, as a R&R traditionalist, you will claim to believe he’s pope. Many on the “recognize and resist” traditionalist celebrity circle do not, but will claim to publicly anyway since there is little money to be made as a sedevacantist.
However, the question I asked is whether Bergolo is Catholic.
Halina, where is your traditional Catholic answer?
Tequila – when will “bishop” Pivarunas call a council to formally condemn Bergoglio and elect a new Pontiff? (Himself perhaps or Sanborn…. Cekada?). You do believe Pivarunas is the highest Godly authority on earth now, no?
http://prolifecorner.com/pope-francis-and-the-child-killer/
What a joke. Conserative Catholics have been defending life, the lives of every person while liberal Catholics like Kennedy, Biden, and Cuomo have been building the culture of death and the murder of millions!
Tequila…….Are you a ‘mole’ for Karl Keating?
I think you should pray more………for the rights of God!
No one who considers themselves to be Catholic should vote for a politician who is ambiguous about the issue of abortion. It is a simple issue. Either a politician supports abortion or does not support abortion. Any Catholic who votes for a politician who supports abortion has excommunicated themselves from the Church which they claim to be a member of. It is that simple.
Regarding Nelson Mandela, he and the ANC were communists. The is historical fact. With the fall of Communism in Europe in 1989/1990, Mandela and the ANC did change their political view. I have to credit Mandela in one regard. Despite suffering imprisonment, it would have been understandable if he had sought retribution for what happened to him. The fact that he didn’t he deserves to be commended in that regard.
Another great post Louie! You hit the ball out of the park. I have been searching for almost 25 years for the authentic catholic faith. I was stuck for about two decades in a progressive parish. After I emerged from those weeds, I was spinning my wheels with what was advertised as authentic catholicism – tv, print media, podcasts, catholic radio, etc.
Now we are finally coming home! Louie and a handful of others are helping the faithful, or rather the remnant of what is left of the faithful, to find the Truth. When the money stops flowing to progressive parishes, a slow and steady change will begin.
Keep the faith.
Halina:
If you are that desperate to deflect the question, then it appears to me that although you proclaim Bergolo Pope, in your heart of hearts you are not sure if he is Catholic. Why not just be upfront about your sede-agnosticism?
B Jensen said: “This obtuseness emboldens Bergoglio” – well put, and people acting as if this wierd ‘obtuseness’ is holy, is papolatry, which is something invented by Protestants – after all – there was no such thing as a ‘papist’ before the Reformation. ‘Papist’ was just a way of denying, ‘we’ve just turned our back on God’s True Church, but we’ll just pretend we’ve turned our back on ‘papists’.
Halina said: “Tequila, are you a mole for KK” – I’ve been wondering the same thing – but more like a mole trained in torture techniques and also, maybe not just one, methinks ‘Torquemada Tequila’ blog comment sede-V, has about six hands at least. “The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.”
RE: Louie’s post – “It is absolutely vital that Catholic leaders do not allow themselves to become respecters of persons, swept away by personality cults. Catholic leaders have a duty to stand up to public figures with anti-life and anti-family records, however praiseworthy their record may be on other issues.” John Smeaton, President of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC)
p.s. I’m with Rick – Keep the Faith.
p.s.s. Halina – good points on correcting errors. St Paul is constantly admonishing and encouraging the Faithful to admonish.
Bl. Jacinta, pray for us.
Front page of the Boston Globe today,” A Combative Bishop Counters The Pope”. Quote from Bishop Thomas J Tobin of Rhode Island, in response to comments by Pope Francis. “It`s one thing for him to reach out and embrace and kiss little children. It would also be wonderful if in a spiritual way if he would reach out and embrace and kiss unborn children” .On Sunday Bishop Tobin publicly disagreed with Francis again. While the Pope said that former president Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who died last week, “will inspire generations”,Bishop Tobin issued a statement declaring that appreciation of Mandela`s admirable qualities should be tempered by his” shameful ” promotion of abortion in his country.
Louie I am afraid I have to agree with you on this. Most of the so called conservative Catholic stars including Mike Vorris and Father Z are remaining quiet about these ridiculous things that Francis and the rest of the clergy is doing and saying so much that only Bishop Tobin had to speak out on the Mandela fiasco. Even Tom Woods says that Francis views on the economics are not being distorted by the media these are his own views. BTW today is the International Day for Human Rights and a Day focused on ending the SCOURGE OF POVERTY AND GLOBAL HUNGER.
Agreed.
can torq. tequila finish one sentence without the phrase “R&R traditionalist”? Yeesh…obsession doesn’t begin to describe it. Get a life indeed.
Back when St Thomas More was martyred the church was in chaos, the popes and Curia were corruptt, people were leaving in droves, the state was persecuting the remaing Catholics and people didnt know where they stood anymore. Thomas remain faithful, even to and especially to the Pope. That doesnt mean he condoned the activities of the Bogia popes, Jlius II or even the Clement of his time. He was a constant critic of corruption in the church. But his martyrdom for Christ and Rome should be a light for us in these times which rival his own I think.