Posted on 09/12/2023 8:14:04 AM PDT by ebb tide
One of the most distinct and basic — though sometimes contentious — tenets of Catholic doctrine is that of papal supremacy. Catholics are morally and theologically bound to accept the authority and supremacy of the pope, the bishop of Rome, as the visible head of the Holy Catholic Church. Failure to do so — schism — designates the schismatic as someone who willingly places himself outside the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, leftists within the Church’s ranks have isolated this basic tenet from all other basic tenets of Catholicism and weaponized it. The latest victim of this “hyperpapalism” is the prolific author and veteran Catholic theologian Scott Hahn.
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, recently issued a pastoral letter to faithful Catholics, reminding them of the moral and spiritual teachings of the Holy Catholic Church and warning against the potential attacks on these perennial truths that may surface during the upcoming Synod on Synodality. Strickland concluded his letter by noting that leftist ideologues in the Church tend to erroneously smear faithful or conservative Catholics as schismatics, writing:
Regrettably, it may be that some will label as schismatics those who disagree with the changes being proposed.… [N]o one who remains firmly upon the plumb line of our Catholic faith is a schismatic. We must remain unabashedly and truly Catholic, regardless of what may be brought forth.
The letter attracted a lot of attention on social media, with many thanking the bishop for his courageous defense of the faith and others (predictably and even ironically, given Strickland’s warning against mudslinging) labeling him an enemy of the pope. One of those who thanked Strickland for his letter was Hahn, who wrote on Facebook, “I am grateful for Bishop Strickland’s inspiring words.”
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Ping
Well, if one didn’t realize the spiritual warfare going on before, one can certainly see it now. They will persecute Dr. Hahn, just as they are Strickland. We must keep praying.
This prayer just came to mind for me:
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, o Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Amen.
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