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To: Campion; Bishop_Malachi
Yes, Campion, that's just it. If the election of Jorge Bergoglio were taken to be a direct act of God's positive will, it would be absurd, as it would be God choosing someone who would expose His Flock to daily confusion and heresy. But that could not be God' positive, or shall we say "executive" will; no more than if a good Christian woman asked for God's guidance in choosing a good husband, but ended up marrying a man who proved to be a deceiver, unfaithful and abusive.

God's permissive will is another story. God could permit Jorge Bergoglio, just as He could permit a lamentable marriage, just as He could choose and permit Judas, though He does not force anybody to sin.

"Jesus replied to them, 'Didn't I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.'"(John 6:70)

Everyone is exposed to temptation, whether from their own weakness, or base, worldly motives, or from the snares of the devil. Everyone --- a pope-elect, a wedded spouse, a close companion and Apostle of Christ like Judas--- could choose good or evil.

In exactly the same sense, "the world, the flesh and the devil" influenced Peter, James and John to be unable to pray with Jesus for even one hour at His time of crisis; influenced Judas to betray Jesus; influenced Peter to deny Him three times; influenced all the rest (except John) to abandon Him to His enemies in sheer cowardice and fear.

Same Church --- still His Church, now, as then: and we call this failure of even those chosen by Christ, the "Mysterium Iniquitatis"--the Mystery of Iniquity.

Yet the multiple failures of the Apostles did not mean that Jesus erred in choosing them, nor that Jesus at length would reject them. They were all restored except for despairing Judas, who was replaced by the first Apostolic successor, Matthias, in what would be a chain of successors for the Apostles, stretching from then until now.

So Jesus has not abandoned the Church. He knows EXACTLY what He is dealing with here. But He does not hate the Church, His Body; He does not hate His Bride.

16 posted on 12/12/2019 11:46:05 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("Let us commend ourselves, and one another, and our whole life, unto Christ Our God.")
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Conflating the Org with the real one true Body of believers still! You’re can be so devious ...


20 posted on 12/12/2019 12:49:47 PM PST by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
The answer to this question is perhaps deceptively simple - The Lord has in the past used ungodly men to act as his instrument of chastisement for a wicked and unrepentant world.

Romans Chapter 1:20 to 1:32 gives a pretty good insight into the issue

Regrettably, not a pleasant explanation

21 posted on 12/12/2019 12:59:53 PM PST by rdcbn ( Referentia)
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