Monday 23 February 2015

A Pontificate for Thugs

The Fr Thomas Rosica 'case' now covered by quite a few sites disturbs me greatly. The idea that a Catholic layperson can voice his concerns at what certainly appears to be the public statement of doctrinal positions that deviate from the Magisterium, only to then be issued with a lawsuit from a priest is quite unbelievable.

This news ties in with the latest reports of the wrecking ball approach of the Commissioner of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. This is getting really very ugly. A papacy that was meant to embody 'mercy' more and more appears to be used - by some at least -as a smokescreen for a new and brutal era that seems well suited to thugs or nightclub bouncers.

Nightclub bouncers - I am sure there are many good ones - have a reputation for being rough around the edges and every now and then giving someone a 'good going over' if they've stepped out of line. They look quite respectable a lot of the time, but know how to pack a good punch and can leave you with a broken nose. Laws like those which forbid grievous bodily harm are known to go out of the window in the heat of the moment, when it is convenient.

Pope Benedict XVI was - in an age in the Church that probably demanded 'tough love', really very gentle with those who sought to oppose him. He would never - unlike Fr Thomas Rosica - think Lent - or any other time - was a time for getting even with your enemies. What a way to start Lent!

'That man criticised me, because my own words make me look and sound heretical. Sue that man!'


Apparently, Fr Thomas Rosica can spout whatever nonsense he likes on Twitter - or other media outlets - and everyone has to accept it without complaint, even if it insults God, Our Lady and St Joseph. What we are seeing now is in stark contrast to the Benedictine approach. The new regime seems to talk the talk about mercy, but walk a different walk that sees might as right, even though if you ask them to give a clear answer on good and evil, and the difference between the two, they offer very little advice. Strange that, isn't it? I suppose that a new atmosphere and a new 'springtime' in the Church regarding moral and doctrinal issues could leave certain prelates and priests confused, giving them a conducive environment in which to exercise their baser, more brutal, more violent sides.

People are still confused as to what STFU means. Does it mean 'Surrender to Francis Unconditionally?'

Cardinal Donald Wuerl and others are very good at talking about compassion and mercy but then go onto attack other bishops as 'dissenters', while not taking time to tell us who or what they are dissenting to. Is it the Bishop of Rome they are dissenting to or the timeless teaching of the Eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ and His Church? It is rather important to ascertain whether 'dissenting' bishops are being loyal to Jesus Christ by voicing concern over the 'agenda' promoted in the pontificate of Pope Francis.

While we are on the subject of 'agendas', is it really appropriate for the Pope to say that the issue of married priests 'is on my agenda'? Does the Vicar of Christ really have an 'agenda'? I think it is safe to say that Pope Francis does have an agenda, not far down the list of which seems to be the habitual insulting and public denigration of priests, seminarians and other Catholic Christians he thinks don't live up to the mark. Questioning, in public, the psychological state or moral state of 'traditionalist' seminarians is, I think, pretty outrageous and an insult to the intelligence of Catholics. Has it escaped His Holiness's notice that the former Bishop of our Diocese and others now known as notorious were not particularly 'traditionalist'. I don't recall the abusive priests and scandalous bishops or those who covered up serial abuse in Belgium and Ireland and the US being 'traditionalist', but I suppose it would be unhelpful to let truth get in the way of a good old fashioned smear campaign.


Whatever is going on in Rome, it doesn't appear to be the way of Jesus at all, and stands in stark contrast to the humble way of Francis's predecessor. All this ugliness now starts to make sense if the truth of Jesus Christ is not placed firmly at the top of the Pope's 'agenda' and moral confusion is allowed to flourish in Rome.

It would be nice if goodness and charity always filled a moral vacuum, but in a fallen world, it doesn't seem to be the way things work out as malice and pride fills Rome quicker than ISIS fill a war-zone. I don't think people should be sued or labelled dissidents or 'thrown to the wolves' for just asking whether the 'agenda in Rome' is the same agenda, if we can use that crass word, as the Divine Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.

Thugs and bullies don't win. The mighty are humbled by God. Those who exalt themselves are brought low. Might is not necessarily right. Though He was innocent, Jesus redeemed the World through an instrument of torture, humiliation and public scorn. Authority itself does not guarantee justice if those in authority do not exercise clemency. Authority can be abused. There is nothing Christian about thuggish and bullying, intimidatory behaviour towards those who are in your care. Yes, Fr Rosica, you really are suing your own spiritual son, who felt compelled to offer you some correction, even if he lives miles away! I hope and pray such behaviour in Rome stops soon, but I'm not holding my breath. We might have to wait for another time for that, another era. After all, Pope Francis can read the riot act as much as he likes to the mafia in Sicily, but if he can't reign in the mafia in Rome, why should even the members in Sicily take him seriously?

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are living through the Great Apostasy - and it's very very ugly. Blessed Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle . . .

Pelerin said...

Having watched some of Fr Rosica's interviews on his Salt and Light channel and been impressed by his interviewing skills, I too find this threat of his very disturbing.

As you say other blogs have taken this up and I see that Fr Rosica is a Basilian Father - an order I must confess I have never heard of.

What is also most distressing and shocking is the comment shown about Cardinal Burke (a quick google will show what it meant) and it comes from a Priest who is the official spokesman of the Basilian fathers. I understand he has retractd it now but the damage has been done. Should not the Basilian fathers be investigated if their spokesman can do such a thing?

Celia said...

I think it says a great deal about the atmosphere that the present Pope has created over the last 2 years that priests feel they can behave publicly in such an abusive and frankly unchristian way towards those they disagree with.
They obviously feel they can take their lead from his constant carping at the 199 varieties of Catholics he disapproves of. The slur against traditionalist seminaries was a new low- were all those homosexual- dominated seminaries in the USA traditionalist? I think not.

Hrodgar said...

Fr Rosica's behavior seems particularly problematic in view of 1Cor6. Even if he had a legitimate complaint, "brother go[ing] to law with brother, and that before unbelievers" is not something St. Paul looked kindly on.

Anonymous said...

If the Catholic Church is so nasty can it really be true?

That is question I have started to ask under Francis' papacy, I don't think I'm alone.

TLM said...

LOL! In our 'civil' days STFU may have meant 'Surrender To Francis Unconditionally'. That would have at least been decent, even if a little 'marxist like'. It means: 'Shut The (blank) Up'. Unbelievably foul and disgusting coming from a so called Priest of the Basilian Fathers. He is also the Director of the Catholic Media in Canada, and I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong) the head of the CCCB? I am still in shock about this one. Seems to me a mixture of mental illness and diabolical disorientation has taken root in the Church of Christ......BIG TIME.

John Fisher said...

Michael Voris also has a post of some of the personal theological views held Rosica when a deacon. I knew he was a dissenter after watching interviews on his Salt and Light channel. The Modernists he interviewed and questions he aske them giving them a forum is exactly like the Synod on the Family recently. I was very worried when he was given the papal spin PR job with Fr Lombardi. Rosica and men like him are enemies behind the gates causes chaos because they can. Its being going on in the Church for too long.

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

That's the real issue - the Catholic Magisterium as the unassailable source of authentic teaching...and people who 'disagree' and set up their own contemporary magisterium with its Orwellian double-speak, whereby if you say something is something, even if it isn't True, then it 'is' - it has worked like a charm for centuries. To call the Holy Family 'irregular', for instance is an outright lie. St Joseph took Mary, ever Virgin, as his wife and they raised Our Lord. Where, for the purposes of the world, is the irregularity? When did they divorce and remarry or worse (which is the real meaning of irregularity in the mouths of orc-lords of the New Order?)We all know, of course, he is exploiting the miracle of the Virgin Birth for terrible reasons.

Christ is not a revolutionary. He is the fulfillment of Truth. He didnot revolt against the prophets of Israel, but fulfilled their prophecies. The Novus Ordo, what does it fulfil?

Now Bergoglio's 'eye of sauron' is whipped around to Tradtionalists infiltrating Novus Ordo seminaries (honestly they should be so blessed).

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/was-pope-francis-warning-against-bishops-ordaining-traditionalist-seminaria

In typical Bergoglio fashion they are described as pyschologically and morally unbalanced. He forgot to mention that according to his personal and very unCatholic magisterium they are also to be equated with fundamentalist terrorists. All of the magisterium of sauron is of the 'you can't make this stuff up' category. But more and more people are becoming acclimated. Don't get used to such weather.

And here, in all its modernist anti-Magisterium fundamentalism is the magisterium of Bergoglio:

http://www.novusordowatch.org/francis-destroyer-english.pdf

This man is not Catholic.

Liam Ronan said...

I've said this elsewhere.

As sons of the Church disputes between clergy and Faithful must needs be taken to the Ecclesiastical Court as Court of first jurisdiction and that the Code of Canon Law applies to this dispute between Father Rosica and the Catholic blogger in question:

"Canon 212 §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons."

The entire legislative and judicial history of the Catholic Church (including the counsels of the New Testament) urges the members of the Church to resolve differences within the Church rather than at common law, Canadian or otherwise.

Catholic Blogger appears to have relied on the letter of Canon Law (above) insofar as exercising his guaranteed right and 'duty' to openly express his opinions and therefore under civil/tort/common law 'detrimentally relied' on the Church Herself, i.e. Father Rosica's employer, to speak boldly.

Therefore I believe the matter is equitably estopped on the civil side and must proceed to be heard in the ecclesiastical courts.

Liam Ronan said...

One other observation.

This very much looks like what is commonly referred to as a S.L.A.P.P lawsuit, i.e. a 'strategic lawsuit against public participation', a lawsuit intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defence until they abandon their criticism or opposition.

The Canadian Courts have considered similar subject matter of late and there is Canadian case law on it.

But this is a matter for an ecclesiastical court, not a civil one.

Liam Ronan said...

One final thought as I don't wish to monopolize this discussion, but my experience is that instituting and prosecuting such a legal action requires 'deep pockets', i.e. a significant reservoir of either assets or income in order to go the distance.

From what I have read, Canadian Blogger is just an 'ordinary Joe' getting by on a nominal income.

So my personal curiosity is directed towards Plaintiff Rosica's reserves.

I shouldn't expect a priest, per se, draws a substantial salary and would not expect the institutional Catholic Church would ante-up the funding, so whence the funds to pursue this civil action?

If push comes to shove, my guess is that the Plaintiff, in order to show monetary damages, will be compelled, for comparitive purposes, to turn-over years of financial records to show financial harm attributable to the defendant.

But I'm just spit-ballin' here.

GWAM said...

Bones said: "I hope and pray such behaviour in Rome stops soon, but I'm not holding my breath. We might have to wait for another time for that, another era."

Yep.

And as the centenary of Fatima looms ever closer, I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that all bets are off as to guessing what the shape of the Church, the world, humanity in general, will look like on the other side of October 2017.

Nothing necessarily (emphasis) special about a centenary, of course, any moreso than 99, 101 or even 999 years.

But you read around and see the mess that the Church is in, and then you switch on the news and see the mess that the world is in - as your head bounces around between headlines about Vlad, ISIS, the Boko Chaps, Soft Lad in the White House (soon to be replaced by Soft Girl in the White House - let's face it, Hillary Wins!), and the rest of the Cast of Idiots (Hollande, Cameron et al, too many to mention) and you just get a sense of the whole show on earth heaving with that metal-snap, rivet-popping, something's-gotta-give, iron-bending groan noise.

And you can't help but thinking, what with 2017 just around the corner, and we still haven't done IT, properly, THAT Fatima thing Mary asked (please, spare me the mental gymnastics, of course we haven't - we all know that, deep down, the evidence is screaming before us that we haven't), that the rest of this decade is headed towards something nastier than we can imagine.

Pray that the Lord listens to His Mother begging for Him to spare even more time for us to finally come to our senses.

GWAM said...

P.S. Oh yeah, North Korea! Forgot them!

*smacks forehead*

Anonymous said...

THe world is a shambles, Hilary wins? From bad to worse, in Europe there is a cast of useful idiots, almost all of leaders are, but one, the Tzarin of all Germany, a kind of everlasting tyrant hard to die....Lenin would be so happy to see how many idiots are there, Greece is the first one to go to the gallows and after the 2 tricolore countries.....good night Europe, the CC is on her way to dissolve. Michael Archangel is not enough if alone, needs all the army. God bless+.

Nicolas Bellord said...

The Southern Tenant Farmers Union (founded 1934) are asking what the bit.ly/ etc means.

In the meantime Father Volpi has made an agreement with the Manelli family (from whence came the founder of the FFI) saying that he did not mean to accuse them of embezzlement, that he will pay them Euros 20,000 and make a public statement to that effect. He has now reneged on the agreement because somebody did make it public and is going to sue them and others for defamation. The legal profession are rubbing their hands with glee at these developments. Is the Church now regretting those attacks on lawyers made 2000 years ago and try to make it up to them?

Pelerin said...

The blog Ethelreda's Place links today to a Michael Voris video on this subject and asks many pertinent questions.

Slick said...

Never seen or heard of a pope who uses more insulting language than this one (always directed at faithful, orthodox Catholics). He has no self-discipline with his diarrhea of the mouth and causes confusion while misleading many. He is doing plenty of damage to souls and the Church without officially changing doctrine.

Unknown said...

My understanding is that Mr. Domet (the Canadian blogger) was not "issued with a lawsuit", but merely mailed a garden-variety cease and desist letter. That action coming from a Vatican spokesman is major news, though, since it is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress the speech of a lay Catholic who has every right to assert his views in this manner.

Anonymous said...

I think concerned Catholics in the media and in dioceses in general should begin asking more questions about the "Lavender Mafia"; personally, I would prefer the phrase "Purple Prelates", as that is a little easier to say. Is Pope Francis a Purple Prelate, or is he just a Purple Prelate sympathizer? These are important questions.

Hugh McLoughlin said...

I would assume that much, though obviously not all of Canadian Civil Law is derived from the Common Law of England. I would therefore expect that should Fr Rosica pursue an action for defamation/libel against Mr Domet he is doomed to faillure. As I understand it -- and I am neither a lwayer nor have I ever been accused of being one; and I am not English -- veritas (it is true) is a sufficient defence in such cases. How could Fr Rosica deny it?

Lepanto said...

Frs. Rosica and Scott are Basilians. Both these priests in their capacity as past and current spokesmen for their order have had a busy time responding to the press about several priests found guilty of multiple abuse accusations committed over decades. Given that there are only a couple of hundred priests in the order, it could be said to have become so infected with gross sin that it is a wonder the Vatican didn't just disband it rather than promote one of its members to such an important post.

Anonymous said...

http://www.traditioninaction.org/ProgressivistDoc/A_162_Berg-GOI.html

Anonymous said...

Our Lord told us to "Be as wise as serpents but as innocent as doves". It is highly unwise to resort to name calling and personal attacks in exposing heresy. In this day and age it will simply draw the response we are seeing. We must keep Christian dignity and charity even when fighting passionately for the truth.

It may well be that there are liars and cheats, sophists and hypocrites, bullies, careerist toadies, haters of truth, schemers and lick-spittles, wolves not jut in sheep's clothing but in shepherd's robes, striding smugly about doing great harm to God's household. I think there are, but by saying so I libel no one. However as soon as I throw those labels at someone in particular, then I am defaming them and risking a lawsuit in the Western world. It is far better to stick to facts, report what individuals have actually said and point out calmly and clearly what is wrong with it in your opinion. Express surprise, ask pertinent questions, but don't rant and rave and lose your head. It is giving the enemy the weapons he needs to destroy you.

kiwiinamerica said...

A "shepherd" attempting to ruin a sheep.

Aint it grand?

Can you say "Scandal" with a capital "S"? Imagine for a moment that this case goes all the way and Fr. Rosica is awarded heavy damages by a court of law.

Are there truly words to describe a situation where a faithful Catholic family man is reduced to penury by a supposed "man of God"?

The "lavender mafia" is now in charge folks, and petty, vindictive, spiteful behavior is its calling card.

Lawless=Satan said...

It's not going on just at Rome; it's going on all over U.S. and Europe. A bunch of homosexual thugs have been put in charge of the seminaries, the universities, the chanceries, the parishes, Catholic Charities etc. They are just getting brave enough to come out of the closet and start bullying everyone the way they have been doing behind closed doors for over 50 years now.

"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders" Thess 2:7-9

Damask Rose said...

I think it's going to get worse - nastier.

If say, hypothetically, more gay priests "come out" at the pulpit during Sunday Mass, the devout Catholics are going to either leave the Parish or sit quietly because the homosexualist priests and lavender mafia in the Church know the state law is now on their side and they are an all-important minority. What with parishioners giving priests that "come out" standing ovations some Catholics are going to find the Parish a lonely place if said gay (but not acting-out, of course) priest is allowed to continue his ministry in the parish.

There are going to be parishioners who will support gay priests because either their own children are homosexualist or their children aren't practising or the parents aren't practising the faith in a righteous way ie contraception etc. The gay priest appeases their conscience.

It could get nasty, normal good Catholics being accused of being homophobic and so on. If these things take a legal turn, it could affect job applications.

Unbelievable that Fr Scott thought he could be so horribly rude to Cardinal Burke!

It's as though a cadre of clerics are beginning to feel all-powerful. Catholic priest cat-fighting. Good priests will get back-stabbed and perhaps, priests will begin to extort protection money from the faithful for the Sacraments. Oh, I forgot, that already happens, the German Church Tax.

Anonymous said...

No, the corrupt orders are protected, whilst the holy ones are persecited and suppressed.

Anonymous said...

Of course, truth is a complete defence to an allegation of defamation. Opinion and fair comment are not defamatory either.

Mary Ann Kreitzer said...

We all better be praying and fasting and working hard for the October synod. You can bet the dissenters and lovers of the Kasper protocol will be!

Damask Rose said...

Dear Mary Ann

"We all better be praying and fasting and working hard for the October synod."

The mention of the 'October synod' is beginning to sound more and more like a Communist manifesto.

October Synod - October Revolution

Anonymous said...

We all need to pray hard for the grace of perseverance through this Apostasy and persecution. We are so scattered and alone.

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