[ultima ratio]

I said the Vatican washed its hands, not the Pope. In fact, we can't know at this point exactly how aware the Pope is of what's going on. But the Vatican bureaucrats closest to the Pontiff certainly placed political considerations above justice--just as Pilate did. Their backtracking left Gibson twisting in the wind, buffeted by still more bad publicity, after the Vatican press office had already given him the go-ahead to use the papal quote. That was despicable.

I do concede some good bishops have backed the film, but certainly not most--just as most apostles ran away rather than face the mob, but not all. John held his ground, perhaps a few others. The parallels are interesting. Nor is all of this finished in the way it will finally play out. I believe this film will shake many an orthodox cardinal from his lethargic sleep--perhaps in time for the next conclave to elect a pope. It will be interesting if such men will be sufficient in number to defeat the modernists.

[Unam Sanctam]

What about the Renaissance popes? There have a lot more crooked and corrupt and sinful papal curias in history. Does that mean the Church stopped being the Church and the Pope stopped being the Pope? Whether the Vatican and others are cautious about the movie or not is a prudential question that people can have different views on, not a doctrinal matter tha justifies rebellion and creation of a parallel schismatic structure. The Church authorities were cautious about Lourdes and Fatima, and rightly so. The Church should not move fast in my view.