Posted on 09/22/2017 9:57:29 AM PDT by ebb tide
The situation in Vatican City continues to deteriorate, as news abounds of alliances not quite in harmony with Church teaching.
Most recently we learned that “Chile’s president Michelle Bachelet, who sponsored a bid to allow legal abortion, will be one of the speakers at a November conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.” At the same time, we are learning more about the newly appointed members of the Pontifical Academy for Life. One of them is a defender of remarried Catholic divorcees living in adultery. Her name is Professor Anne-Marie Pelletier, a biblical theologian who also defends homosexual marriages. Pope Francis honored Pelletier by asking her write the Good Friday meditations even though she is a known public dissenter from Catholic teaching.
Sadly, Pelletier is not the only problematic appointee. New appointee Professor Nigel Biggar has said publicly that he supports abortion up to 18 weeks. And Vatican reporter Edward Pentin has mentioned several additional appointees to the Pontifical Academy for Life who dissent from the encyclical Humanae Vitae. At least one of them supports contraceptive use in some cases for Catholics.
These facts have led to, at least in my opinion, emulations of such confusing activity right here in the United States, with just one example recently happening in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Congresswoman Judy Chu, who has a 100 percent pro-abortion voting record and endorsements from both Planned Parenthood and NARAL, recently spoke at an event located at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Plaza. Though the event was not sponsored by the Church, its allowance of such a speaker on Church grounds confuses people and seems to give tacit approval. Several Catholic pro-life organizations protested, but to no avail. And as far as we could discern, Archbishop Jose Gomez had no response. Naturally Catholics are concerned and confused.
When official Vatican entities become platforms for debate and discussion of differences rather than defenders of fundamental moral teachings of the Church, we should not be surprised that things can go sideways in any diocese or Catholic university—or anywhere. It underscores the point Archbishop Charles Chaput made when he said, after a recent Synod of Bishops, that “Confusion is of the devil.”
And while the faithful have to cope with this scenario, we surely do not have to remain quiet about it. All these matters are in God’s hands, but we can take action in our own little corners of the world.
When interacting with our family and friends, many of whom are disturbed by these ebbs and flows in the Church, we can shine light in the darkness by praying. Remember the words spoken by Christ to His disciples: “For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.”
Furthermore, we are also called to be watchmen, like those the prophet Ezekiel mentioned in chapter 33. This means we must reassure our brothers and sisters that we find our refuge in Christ during these troubling times.
As my dear friend Christine Vollmer recently stated:
We are headed for very rough waters and we must not lose heart. Our Lord is alive and we must be faithful to Him and His teaching during this time of trial. Young priests and laity, and the many faithful movements, must hold firmly to the Truth, united in prayer and action until this storm is calmed. Jesus, I trust in You!
Trusting in Christ, we can speak the truth with love and charity, and we can make sure our children are educated in the ways of the Lord according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the great teaching of heroic popes like St. John Paul II. We can become individual lighthouses where others can come for reassurance that nothing is lost except that which we choose to surrender.
And surrender is not in our vocabulary.
At a time like this, we must remember the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity.”
Perhaps the Vatican is slouching toward wickedness, but we are dashing toward Christ and clinging to His truth as we share it with our family and friends. We will not allow this confusion to reign.
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Join American Life League as we work to cure this toxic pathology by teaching the truth with our Culture of Life Studies Program, by showing others how to live it with our Life Defenders program, and by arming others for battle with our Stop Planned Parenthood International program.
Slouching? It’s become the epicenter.
“Because the Church exists to be a light in the midst of a darkened world, she faces the constant temptation to conform to the world’s dark ways.”
True Reformers-Saints of the Catholic Reformation- Jerome K. Williams 2017
bttt
+1
It is not for us to judge the good or evil that may ensue, as man may propose, but God will dispose.
Angelo Roncalli, known as John XXIII, ascended to the post in 1958 was perhaps one of the most influential popes in recent times, followed closely by Karol Józef Wojtyła, who became John Paul II in 1978.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis, cannot hope to ever achieve the level of influence of either of these two giants.
This the most disturbing development so far. This woman just “succeeded” in making abortion legal in some cases in Chile, which, while evil enough, inevitably paves the way for abortion in demand. Yet, she will be speaking at a Vatican-sponsored event? This is heartbreaking.
While not a Catholic myself I had, and still have, the greatest respect for John Paul II.
He lived his faith minute by minute and the world loved and respected him for it.
By the time the present pope is done the Catholic church will need another JPII.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis, cannot hope to ever achieve the level of influence of either of these two giants.
"Giants"? Giants of what, modernism?
Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council, which is now to the go-to source for all that is evil. And Jorge Bergoglio was consecrated a bishop and later elevated to the college of cardinals all under Pope John Paul II's reign.
Review the sordid history of the catholic church and you’ll find that wickedness has been there from just about the beginning.
So what’s your “church”? And when did it begin?
Wherever two or more are gathered. It began before yours did. And it's not dominated by homosexuals and pedophiles.
Is that a "church"?
It's a biblical reference, so no, it does not apply to non-Christians.
So the Bible does not apply to non-Christians?
Interesting.
Thank you. Or better known as giants of heresy.
Thank you. Or better known as giants of heresy.
Sorry for double post...
It has long since slouched.
It was worth repeating.
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