Thursday 30 October 2014

Pope Francis's First Angelus

It is worthwhile reminding ourselves of the First Angelus of Pope Francis in March 2013.

'Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! After our first meeting last Wednesday, today I again give my greetings to you all! And I am happy to do it on Sunday, the Lord's Day! This is beautiful and important for us Christians: to meet on Sunday, to greet one another, to talk as we are doing now, in the square. This square that, thanks to the media, takes on worldly dimensions.
In this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents us with the story of the adulterous woman whom Jesus saves from being condemned to death. It captures Jesus' attitude: we do not hear words of contempt, we do not hear words of condemnation, but only words of love, of mercy, that invite us to conversion. 'Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!' Well, brothers and sisters! God's face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God's patience, the patience that He has with each of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, is always patient with us, understanding us, awaiting us, never tiring of forgiving us if we know how to return to him with a contrite heart. 'Great is the Lord's mercy', says the Psalm.
In these days, I have been able to read a book by a cardinal—Cardinal Kasper, a talented theologian, a good theologian—on mercy. And it did me such good, that book, but don't think that I'm publicizing the books of my cardinals. That is not the case! But it did me such good, so much good... Cardinal Kasper said that hearing the word mercy changes everything. It is the best thing that we can hear: it changes the world. A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just. We need to understand God's mercy well, this merciful Father who has such patience... Think of the prophet Isaiah who asserts that even if our sins were scarlet red, God's love would make them white as snow...'

Somehow, doubt remains as to 'whose side' Pope Francis was on in the hastily organised Synod on the Family, just a year and a half into his pontificate. Retrospectively, things are becoming clearer. The very first Angelus of Pope Francis was a public endorsement of Cardinal Kasper's position which contradicts Christ's teaching. Nothing the Pope has said since removes the suspicion that this has been the Pope's position since day one of his reign.

The Synod did not go Kasper's way and it did not go the way it was intended. That hasn't dampened the spirit of Cardinal Marx of Germany, however. After all, both he and Cardinal Kasper claim papal backing for their reforms. Why any doubt remains that they are correct on this matter, is beyond my comprehension. Cardinal Marx insists that, no matter what was decided upon at the Synod, Pope Francis is going to use some kind of 'executive order' to get the reforms through. It would appear rather that the Pope has placed all his eggs in one basket. That is the faith basket-case that is Germany where mammon in the form of the Church tax is the only god that is respected by the majority of the Hierarchy. Money talks. I guess money - and especially the revenue of the German Church tax - talks to the Pope as well.

7 comments:

philipjohnson said...

The sooner that this bishop of rome is removed the better!!I am fed up to the back teeth with the Church which i grew up in-i am 62 years of age.The Oratorians in Birmingham and the sspx are Catholic to the core-and totally orthodox in teaching.Also the latin Mass in Swinnerton is back for the love of God.Our Lady of Fatima pray for us.Philip Johnson.

Православный физик said...

Make no secret about it, the Pope is on team Liberal.

c matt said...

I have to disagree with you that the synod did not go the way it was intended. I believe it went pretty much as expected - the likelihood of overturning doctrine on "the issues" was probably never the intent - at least not yet. Step one was to chip at the "irreformable" nature of those doctrines. That is, at least get us to talk about the issues, to at least give a hint that maybe they are susceptible to some change. They never expected Synod Round I to actually make the change - only open up discussion. Make the unthinkable thinkable. Mission Accomplished.

Anonymous said...

The suffering is terrible - made worse by the mass denial on the part of many Catholic bishops and priests. So we have no one to turn to.

Anonymous said...

The syn-not didn't only open up discussion, everything was planned and next year the boR will say the words he's ever had in his mind:This is my church, I am the chief,not the pope, but the jefe, end of dicussion the new church of NWO is ready to go 'till the Master will come.MK.

Anonymous said...

Call me an old perv ("you're an old perv!") but I like this pretty little poppet, her news report, and in particular her cardigan.

Anonymous said...

Yes, he has been very clear from the beginning ...very clear...


Faithful Catholics undoubtedly try to be in good faith as they love the papacy - but now it's clear that this pope does not love the papacy very much at all..

In fact he is altering the impact and influence of the figure of the POPE IN THE WORLD ....you cannot do a thing like this if you are unaware...it is conscious- acting out a part ...to achieve what?

I cannot interpret why ......some Catholics I know think it's the Holy Spirit working through him as they do not deny that he is altering things...that's not what I see...it is impossible to discuss anything in a logical fashion with them. They are convinced that the Holy Spirit is speaking and acting through him and that we will see the benefits later on...

The madness continues, and I strive to keep sanely Catholic , sticking close to Our Lady...I hope to be among those who survive this diabolical disorientation..for that is what it is.

A Catholic

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