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‘Afraid of Pope Francis’: A Sobering Email from Father Anonymous
The Remnant Newspaper ^ | 3/10/15 | Michael Matt

Posted on 03/10/2015 4:31:30 PM PDT by BlatherNaut

Editor’s Note: There has been a tendency among some recent critics of The Remnant to confuse our editorial concern over the troubling pontificate of Pope Francis with expressions of indignation over mere personal effrontery. Nothing could be further from the truth. When we note the fact that the Holy Father, for example, appears to be “scolding” traditional Catholics on something of a regular basis, we are not particularly concerned about his less-than-favorable opinion of us as individuals. We are a remnant, after all, whose stock-in-trade is opinion which tends to struggle against the current.

An attack on traditionalists by the Holy Father does, however, suggest an attack on Tradition itself, on 2000 years of liturgical heritage and the established moral order of Holy Mother Church—the defense of which, no matter how inadequate, is what makes a Catholic a traditionalist.

What is so troubling for many of us is this idea that if Pope Francis is correct in administering these scoldings of Tradition, and if he is right in attempting to establish a new orientation for the Church and the papacy, then it would seem to stand to reason that the Church historically and traditionally was wrong or at least seriously mistaken in both her praxis and teaching for a very long time. By his own admission, Francis is trying to move the Church out of the darkness of her old ways and into the light of modernity. For nearly 2000 years of Church history, no pope ever spoke of such an idea other than to condemn it as patently false.

It is difficult for non-Modernists to reconcile novelty with established Tradition, and so we hope and pray we are dead wrong about Pope Francis, and that we are grossly misunderstanding his agenda. Please, God, let it be so! But this is not about us, so-called “traditionalists” taking umbrage with a perceived insult from the pope. We’re used to the catacombs, and we’ve grown up with the scoldings of post-conciliar Holy Fathers ringing in our ears. But in the dire situation that appears to confront the Church now, as is here intimated by Father Anonymous, we fear that the pontificate of Pope Francis may be setting up to take things to a whole new level, a level no Catholic in history ever imagined possible.

Our fear, then, is for the Church we revere above all else as well as for the hopeless world in which our children will grow up, robbed as it may well be of the moral authority of Holy Mother Church. What will happen to them in the winds that will blow then?

Father Anonymous is not a traditionalist, by the way; he offers the New Mass but, like us, is more than merely apprehensive over the direction in which Francis appears to be taking the Church. If Father’s apprehension makes him a traditionalist, so be it and may God help us all. Pray for Pope Francis and pray that The Remnant's concerns about the present pontificate eventually prove to have been wildly exaggerated. MJM

Editor, The Remnant: I’m reassured to read your articles taking Pope Francis to task for his many attacks on faithful Catholics, while at the same time endorsing the immoral behavior of others.

I am a priest and have been for twenty-five years. I’ve never experienced such a spiritual upheaval in all those years, and, believe me, I have seen what I thought was the worst the Catholic Church had to offer.

Pope Francis’ behavior and his continued off-the-cuff remarks have left me feeling demoralized. I have never experienced such ill-will coming from the Holy See. The confusion the Pope’s remarks is causing among the faithful to whom I minister, and the way his actions are emboldening an already anti-Catholic culture seem to me to have something of the sinister about it. When I look into Pope Francis’ eyes I do not see love and compassion, I see vainglory and cunning.

Now we face the possibility of catastrophe when the Synod reconvenes in Rome this fall. My own archbishop sent out requests for input from parishioners about issues of marriage and family. The questions asked of my parishioners seem leading, as if he’s looking for particular responses to suit a predetermined outcome. I fear, in a way I’ve never feared before, that we’re facing serious doctrinal changes. Although Pope Francis continues to insist that these would only be discipline changes and not doctrinal, my gut tells me that he’s being disingenuous.

All over the world we’re seeing cardinals, archbishops and bishops affirming behaviors which are unequivocally condemned by Popes and Councils in previous centuries. As I listen and watch these events, in my mind, over and over, I hear the phrase, “the smoke of Satan has entered the sanctuary.” Could it be that all that is happening is truly the work of Satan? I’m not ready to affirm that it is, but in my heart I fear that it may be true. If it is then it may also be true that many members of our hierarchy do not belong to Christ.

I’ve had conversations with priest friends about all of this. We are all fearful for what is to come. None of us feels as if we’re standing on doctrinally solid grounds any longer. We all cringe every time Pope Francis steps in front of a group of journalists. What will he say next? How will he berate those who are faithfully serving Christ? How will he beat up on us this time?

One of my priest friends asked me during a conversation what I would do if the Church does formally approve what it previously formally condemned. I had to confess in all honesty that I’d probably have to leave priestly ministry. He admitted that he’d probably have no choice but to do the same.

My deepest fear is that if Pope Francis continues to push the Church toward heresy that we may experience a war among the faithful that would make Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s opposition after Vatican II appear like a simple objection!

I know you’ll understand why I’m not signing my name to this email.

May God preserve His Holy Church from the forces, visible and invisible, within and without, who seek to destroy it. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners!

Father Anonymous


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: catholics; fatheranonymous; francis; pope; popefrancis
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To: NKP_Vet
We always “go forward” when we restore the sacred to the liturgy.

I'm going to take that statement at face value and not go nuts about how insane it looks to me.

Indeed Holy Father, we must "go forward" and stop trying to turn the clock back to the 60s and 70s. The liturgical reform has become ossified in the miasma of the "me generation", it's time to let go and let the liturgy flourish authentically.

21 posted on 03/10/2015 6:11:17 PM PDT by Legatus (Either way, we're screwed.)
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To: NKP_Vet
http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/Images%20(501-600)/557-Tango-1.jpg

Cardinal Bergoglio promotes a tango Mass

http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A557-Tango.htm

22 posted on 03/10/2015 6:18:40 PM PDT by BlatherNaut
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To: BlatherNaut

I see the Pope. The man who has made outlandish remarks about everything. His eyes don’t tell me anything, but his actions and speech sure do.


23 posted on 03/10/2015 7:22:45 PM PDT by Politicalkiddo (The family unit plays a critical role in our society and in the training of the generation to come.")
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To: Cry if I Wanna

I am Christian, NOT Catholic (I was once upon a time). The pope does not speak for me. His actions are suspect.


24 posted on 03/10/2015 10:25:32 PM PDT by getarope (Jesus is coming soon, and boy is he PISSED!)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I can make this judgement: If you claim to be a follower of Christ, and are loved by the world, you are doing something wrong.


25 posted on 03/10/2015 10:33:42 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Doctrine doesn't change. The trick is to find a way around it.)
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To: BlatherNaut
My deepest fear is that if Pope Francis continues to push the Church toward heresy that we may experience a war among the faithful that would make Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s opposition after Vatican II appear like a simple objection!

Or maybe that Archbishop Lefebrve was correct in his opposition to Vatican II and that if he was listened to we wouldn't be where we are right now.

26 posted on 03/11/2015 2:24:23 AM PDT by piusv
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To: Jeff Chandler; Fishing-guy

I, in sadness, agree.


27 posted on 03/11/2015 2:34:06 AM PDT by djf (OK. Well, now, lemme try to make this clear: If you LIKE your lasagna, you can KEEP your lasagna!)
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To: BlatherNaut

I am willing to bet that there are a lot more of these “anonymous” priests. I’m guessing it will only be a matter of time before they are no longer “anonymous”.


28 posted on 03/11/2015 2:38:08 AM PDT by piusv
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To: BlatherNaut

It is best to PRAY for Pope Francis and this priest as well as all who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.


29 posted on 03/11/2015 3:03:02 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: BlatherNaut
Our fear, then, is for the Church we revere above all else as well as for the hopeless world in which our children will grow up, robbed as it may well be of the moral authority of Holy Mother Church. What will happen to them in the winds that will blow then?

Depends on what the moral authority is grounded on.

If it's based on fallible men, then yes, it can change.

If it's based on God's word and HIS standards for us, then nothing changes because GOD doesn't change even when people do.

30 posted on 03/11/2015 3:36:59 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: BlatherNaut

I see mockery, like he’s laughing at everyone because he’s pulled one over on them and they don’t know it yet.


31 posted on 03/11/2015 3:38:18 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

The eyes are the window of the soul.

They can tell an awful lot about a person.


32 posted on 03/11/2015 3:40:02 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: BlatherNaut

If one believes prophesie of the end times, then it really doesn’t matter - all the religions will be compacted into a one-world religion/church. Only avenue for reliable carrying of the Word will be non-religious Christians who will also be considered mortal enemies of the super church...


33 posted on 03/11/2015 4:53:05 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
By their fruits you shall know them.

Will this Pope's words and actions further the Truth and Peace of Christ, or not? That is all that matters.
34 posted on 03/11/2015 4:56:50 AM PDT by Montana_Sam (Truth lives.)
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To: piusv
I am willing to bet that there are a lot more of these “anonymous” priests. I’m guessing it will only be a matter of time before they are no longer “anonymous”.

Their names will certainly become public when they are tossed out the door. Cardinal Wuerl's treatment of Fr. Guarnizo (the priest who refused Holy Communion to the loud and proud lesbian buddhist) comes to mind.

"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord..."

Our Lady of Akita, 10/13/73

35 posted on 03/11/2015 6:35:26 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
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To: Jeff Chandler

That’s generally true! But even Jesus was “loved by he world” on Palm Sunday.


36 posted on 03/11/2015 7:42:26 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (God's grace has been revealed, and has made salvation possible for the whole human race. (Titus 2))
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To: metmom
There are so many substantive things that one could say criticizing Pope Francis' policies, appointments and priorities , that the discussion about his eyes only trivializes the discussion. It also makes it look like we're so spiteful we're willing to carp about anything: his yerba mate, the way he ties his shoes.

I'd keep away from the purely subjective, Remember what George W. Bush said about Putin's eyes?

"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue,” Bush said according a BBC account. “I was able to get a sense of his soul. He’s a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country and I appreciate very much the frank dialogue and that’s the beginning of a very constructive relationship."


37 posted on 03/11/2015 8:02:51 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (God's grace has been revealed, and has made salvation possible for the whole human race. (Titus 2))
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To: metmom

Imagine a Catholic pope that’s more liked by protestants and cafeteria Catholics than devout Catholics. Well that’s what we have in Francis, but God promised He would be with the Church forever so no man will destroy it. 2,000 years and going strong and if the world stands 2,000 more years the Catholic Church will still be around, while the breakaway sects will have long since been relegated to the ash heap of history.


38 posted on 03/11/2015 8:11:07 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: Montana_Sam; BlatherNaut; NKP_Vet; metmom; Politicalkiddo
"By their fruits you shall know them. Will this Pope's words and actions further the Truth and Peace of Christ, or not? That is all that matters."

This is true. Yet one must be very discerning about the fruits, since Satan presumes to be Lord of this world and can produce worldly successes, whereas the poor Christian who toils honestly all his life may at the end look an ostensible failure (to the worldly.)

Here's something I've noticed. In his book Silencio y Palabra (Silence and Word) Bergoglio said that before he will organize us around the “issues” he will ask us to reflect by "keeping silence, praying and humbling ourselves". He especially warned that evil presents itself as good or "the bad spirit comes in the guise of an angel."

The way to deal with such Spirit is not to fight it head on, he says, because only God can defeat such a Power. He tells us, "Be gentle! The evil ones will take that for weakness... The devil emboldened will show himself and his true intentions, no longer disguised as an angel of light but boldly and shamelessly."

Did this not happen at the extraordinary synod in October 2014 when the pope was much criticized by us conservatives for not "speaking up" against falsehoods?

His disciplined silence allowed over the next few months that several prominent episcopal "angels of compassion and light" ---- the rich, proud leftists like Kasper, Marx, Wuerl, Forte ---- were exposed by their own deeds and words to be thieves, liars, and racists.

They're doing what strutting bullies so often do: they're digging their graves with their mouths.

Is this what Pope Francis had in mind? I don't know, but willy-nilly, it's happening. It may be what the Holy Spirit had in mind.

Think much about the original underlying conflict with our original foe -- the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning.

This year I predict the Bad Guys, who have in their positions of power have been lured into overplaying their hands, are going to be smacked down hard: not by Pope Francis himself, maybe, but by somebody better: the African bishops and cardinals.

Watch. We'll see. I am praying for it.

39 posted on 03/11/2015 9:06:33 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (God's grace has been revealed, and has made salvation possible for the whole human race. (Titus 2))
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To: Mrs. Don-o
That’s generally true! But even Jesus was “loved by he world” on Palm Sunday.

You do not understand what is meant by the phrase, "loved by the world". Jesus was loved by the masses, but not by "the world", whose god is Satan:

2 Corinthians 4:4

My point:

.


40 posted on 03/11/2015 10:15:24 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Doctrine doesn't change. The trick is to find a way around it.)
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