Pope Francis entered a broken, dying country and he left it a broken and dying country. Francis presented himself before American Catholics almost totally ignorant of the Faith they profess and its practices. He left the Catholics in the same state in which he found them. The spiritual physician from Rome did not diagnose the problem nor prescribe the remedy. Indeed the doctor from Rome didn't even recognize that a problem exists.
Perhaps he came for another reason, though I am hard pressed to know what that might have been. There were compensations, however. The cheering throngs gave him the rock star treatment he seems to crave so much. The world does not hate him. On the contrary.
When speaking about US Catholics in general I refer not to those good citizens who work and pray and try to live their lives as Christ wants them to live it. I refer to the rest, the majority (if polls are to be believed), who will go on to do and say and think what they've always done, said and thought, because they were left unchallenged by the man whose mission is to teach all nations.
America needed to hear about its blood lust, the blood lust that murders infants in the womb and innocents abroad who Washington wants "democratized". We needed to hear about arrogance, injustice, moral relativism, our dying culture. But the Pope did not address these things.
He could have said, and with complete justice, that any nation that allows groups like Planned Parenthood to do what they are doing does not have long to live. He could have warned us that we are at the abyss. He could have said that a Great Comeuppance is coming from somewhere (I know not where); that something terrible is going to happen to a nation like ours (I know not what).
He could have said that the Catholics who greeted him were for the most part Catholics completely out of touch with Catholicism, Catholics who are merely Mass-going Protestants. This could be hard for him because he himself seems out of touch with much of the Faith as it has been understood for twenty centuries. Even so, he might have reminded his flock that there is a Sacrament called Penance, rarely used; that perhaps the flock could address that glaring omission in their lives, and soon. A good question in this regard might have been asked: why does almost no one go to Confession anymore. Why do some pastors (like one I met only two days ago) actually physically remove the Confessionals from their churches? Francis could have asked his flock, "Are you all immaculately conceived now, and have no sin?" We have been told that he often exhorts the use of this particular sacrament. If so we heard precious little about it in America where Catholics destroy their own children with the same gay abandon as their non-Catholic neighbors.
We as a people and a nation are drowning in sin...but all we heard from Francis was platitudes. Endless, very boring platitudes.
To be fair, there are reports of some genuinely edifying moments during his visit. Apparently he met Mrs Kim Davis and offered her hope. Good for him that he did that. I wish he had done more of that kind of thing, and with more publicity. It was noteworthy all the same.
But we are flogging a very dead horse here; we know that this Pope, like some of his predecessors, prefers to ignore such vital issues. Why continue to keep mentioning the obvious?
The answer: why do we continue to breathe? Since the Vatican doesn't want to discuss these issues, somebody has to, even if it has to be insignificant bloggers.
Recently I wrote a little apology to those non-Catholics of good will who were about to get the full "Francis Treatment" when he arrived in America. That post was not well-liked by some. But in light of the recent papal visit which has just thankfully ended I reiterate that apology. The Vicar of Christ, the spiritual physician, left us a bleeding, dying nation, just as he found us. Even non-Catholics of good will have noticed this. They wanted to hear truth. A nation that was begging to be healed by the strong and clear teachings of the Faith was left alone and in ignorance. Instead of teaching us he patronized us. He addressed us as citizens of "the land of the free and home of the brave". It is to laugh. How brave is it for us to exterminate little ones in the womb and chop up their body parts for sale; how brave is it for us to march into another country and rain down bombs and destruction on the innocent?
We are "free", Francis? That's extremely funny. Tell that to the "supreme" court, or the bought-and-paid-for Congress. Or to the man in the White House with whom you were so jocular.
Some Catholics, straining beyond belief to find some good in what he said and did while here, looked rather ridiculous in their attempts to paint the rosiest picture possible. It is eye-opening to see this, for it displays how out of touch with reality some can allow themselves to get. Others, out of respect, preferred to keep a dignified silence.
It would be naive to deny that everyone likes to be liked. I do. But I am not certain I would wish the world to be giving me ovations. Francis, on the other hand, like many recent Popes, wants to make friends with the world. I trust I do not need to offer Bible quotes to remind you of Our Lord's opinion about being loved by the world.
I admire Edward Pentin. An excellent, honest journalist who loves the Faith. I envy him because he can write so dispassionately about what is going on, and is about to go on starting this Sunday, October 4. In his interviews there is an inner anguish in the good man's eyes which is unmistakable. Like many he is worried. Admirably he hides what he thinks behind cold, hard facts even if, once in awhile, his anguish can be more clearly read between the lines. He and others are beginning to see what veterans like the late Hamish Fraser was already seeing in the 1960s up until his death in 1986. The ground had been prepared for someone like Francis by previous Popes who preferred not to admonish or even govern.
I mention Mr Pentin for two reasons: I admire his doggedness in reporting the truth. I admire too his calm, his ability to keep his head on his shoulders.And the other reason is that he gives me hope. When honest men who love the Church - but do not classify themselves as "traditionalists" - are willing to see that something is rotten in Denmark, then I believe it possible that the tables are beginning, finally, to turn.
The doctor came, saw the sick, dying patient and just left. We can hope that one day this physician will heal himself.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Monday, September 28, 2015
Is it so hard, Pope Francis?
We have heard about and read your comments on the "child abuse" crisis: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/09/27/pope-francis-child-abusers-in-the-church-will-be-held-accountable/
But despite all the anguish you rightly displayed about these terrible crimes, you never alluded at all to the reality, to the actual details of this abuse. It is not child abuse, per se. It is, in fact, the homosexual buggering of adolescent boys which is the major issue here, and always has been.
Is it so hard for Your Holiness to speak the words, "homosexual rape of boys"?
Is it so difficult to state that this grave mortal sin is at the heart of this abuse? What is so important, that you have to maintain a deafening silence on these acts of sodomy, and call them by name?
The evidence on this is conclusive and beyond doubt. The vast majority of these cases involve homosexual priests, Bishops and Cardinals molesting young males. The number of girls molested is infinitesimal by comparison.
Why don't you speak clearly on this? What or whom are you afraid of?
A sin which cries to Heaven for vengeance means that those who remain silent about it - especially when it is their duty to condemn it - will also feel God's vengeance.
The Mercy Show has come and gone in the USA, Your Holiness. Despite all the mercy shown, the pearls cast before the swine if you will, I hope you will forgive me for being doubtful that it had any effect at all on those recipients of your mercy.
But despite all the anguish you rightly displayed about these terrible crimes, you never alluded at all to the reality, to the actual details of this abuse. It is not child abuse, per se. It is, in fact, the homosexual buggering of adolescent boys which is the major issue here, and always has been.
Is it so hard for Your Holiness to speak the words, "homosexual rape of boys"?
Is it so difficult to state that this grave mortal sin is at the heart of this abuse? What is so important, that you have to maintain a deafening silence on these acts of sodomy, and call them by name?
The evidence on this is conclusive and beyond doubt. The vast majority of these cases involve homosexual priests, Bishops and Cardinals molesting young males. The number of girls molested is infinitesimal by comparison.
Why don't you speak clearly on this? What or whom are you afraid of?
A sin which cries to Heaven for vengeance means that those who remain silent about it - especially when it is their duty to condemn it - will also feel God's vengeance.
The Mercy Show has come and gone in the USA, Your Holiness. Despite all the mercy shown, the pearls cast before the swine if you will, I hope you will forgive me for being doubtful that it had any effect at all on those recipients of your mercy.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Fasting, as the Dreaded Synod approaches
“But this kind is not cast out except by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:20)
Well, there we have it. The words of Our Lord Himself on the value of fasting when it comes to casting out the demons.
We at The Eye-Witness are respectfully requesting that our comrades-in-arms, our good bloggers and websites, join with us in encouraging a special fast day, or days, to fight the machinations of those who will, at the upcoming Synod, attempt to radically change beyond all recognition the Catholic Faith, the one, true Faith out of which no one may be saved.
Our insignificant blog cannot do this alone; therefore we appeal to our colleagues to write about this initiative on their own blogs and websites, so that many in the Catholic world - and non-Catholic world, hopefully - will join us in this effort to do something the Devil despises and hates: fast.
A rather sobering reminder of what we are up against was succinctly stated by the editors of LifeSite News:
Those opposed to Church moral teachings, especially related to contraception, marriage and homosexuality, now appear to have lost all fear of being held accountable for their betrayals and infidelity. If anything, they have become bullies who are prouder and more determined than ever to force dramatic changes to the teachings of two millennia.
They have "lost all fear" of any reprisals. Indeed.
The Synod will commence on October 4th and end on the 15th. If there are those who cannot do either a five, or seven or nine day fasting regimen for the intention of thwarting the Masters of Chaos, may we recommend one day at least: Saturday, October 3, the First Saturday of the Month of Our Lady's Rosary and the feast day of St Therese of Lisieux in the traditional calendar. On that one day, the day before the Synod begins, perhaps many in the Church could fast, according to the traditional fasting rules of the Church.
There are many fine initiatives already going on: a 54-day rosary novena (which we are honored to be participating in), Masses being said, private prayers, petitions, the Children's Crusade of Prayer (see side bar) and a number of others. These are all good and necessary, and no one should abandon what they are already doing. Many blogs have already made brilliant suggestions. We add this one to the list because we know the efficacy of fasting, how it stops even The Evil One in his tracks. And we hope that it may be an addition to other prayerful efforts now being made.
Prayer and Fasting casts out the devils, so Our Lord reminds us. It is our hope that many will join us in using this tool, as well as others, to stop them from what many of them are trying to do.
Well, there we have it. The words of Our Lord Himself on the value of fasting when it comes to casting out the demons.
We at The Eye-Witness are respectfully requesting that our comrades-in-arms, our good bloggers and websites, join with us in encouraging a special fast day, or days, to fight the machinations of those who will, at the upcoming Synod, attempt to radically change beyond all recognition the Catholic Faith, the one, true Faith out of which no one may be saved.
Our insignificant blog cannot do this alone; therefore we appeal to our colleagues to write about this initiative on their own blogs and websites, so that many in the Catholic world - and non-Catholic world, hopefully - will join us in this effort to do something the Devil despises and hates: fast.
A rather sobering reminder of what we are up against was succinctly stated by the editors of LifeSite News:
Those opposed to Church moral teachings, especially related to contraception, marriage and homosexuality, now appear to have lost all fear of being held accountable for their betrayals and infidelity. If anything, they have become bullies who are prouder and more determined than ever to force dramatic changes to the teachings of two millennia.
They have "lost all fear" of any reprisals. Indeed.
The Synod will commence on October 4th and end on the 15th. If there are those who cannot do either a five, or seven or nine day fasting regimen for the intention of thwarting the Masters of Chaos, may we recommend one day at least: Saturday, October 3, the First Saturday of the Month of Our Lady's Rosary and the feast day of St Therese of Lisieux in the traditional calendar. On that one day, the day before the Synod begins, perhaps many in the Church could fast, according to the traditional fasting rules of the Church.
There are many fine initiatives already going on: a 54-day rosary novena (which we are honored to be participating in), Masses being said, private prayers, petitions, the Children's Crusade of Prayer (see side bar) and a number of others. These are all good and necessary, and no one should abandon what they are already doing. Many blogs have already made brilliant suggestions. We add this one to the list because we know the efficacy of fasting, how it stops even The Evil One in his tracks. And we hope that it may be an addition to other prayerful efforts now being made.
Prayer and Fasting casts out the devils, so Our Lord reminds us. It is our hope that many will join us in using this tool, as well as others, to stop them from what many of them are trying to do.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Maybe it is time for Philomena
As the dreaded days of a Roman October are now fast approaching we may need now to shift our focus toward one who is the help of the hopeless.
False optimism is no longer workable; a glib re-stating of the truth that "the gates of Hell will not prevail" is no reason to be complacent. We, and by that I mean the entire world, is in imminent danger. Denying this or merely being hopeful are not sensible options at this time. Again, we are in imminent danger. I've just seen a list of the dregs of the Church who have been personally selected by our odd Pope to attend his Synod next month. Even though I expected this, it still leaves me speechless.
Aside from the pleas, rosaries and novenas many have addressed to Heaven, which we must never give up on, there is not much now that we layfolk can do. Yes, we will continue to write, to pray, to awaken our fellow Catholics who have been slumbering. Other than that, I don't know. The Homosexualists are in the driver's seat. The fix seems to be well and truly in. Please God I am wrong.
A bleak October in Rome is in the offing. When we see a Church that has seemingly lost its reason for being, indeed lost its mind, perhaps it is time to turn to Philomena.
St Philomena, our help in every necessity.
http://holydevotions.blogspot.com/2008/06/st-philomena-virgin-martyr-and-wonder.html
http://catholicism.org/st-philomena.html
Friday, September 18, 2015
As a Catholic, I wish to apologize...
....to non-Catholics, for the silly rock star-like visit of the Pope of Rome to America. In all its tawdry glitter, its obvious Hollywood-style PR, its sick-making gushing by talking (air)heads on TV and elsewhere, it is a supreme embarrassment to simple Catholics, and to the dignity of the Office of the papacy.
When Pope John Paul II came to the US in 1979 there was a bit of celebration and hoopla, not all of which was bad, that accompanied him, and overall he kept as much of his dignity as was possible.
But in the case of our current Pope that is not so. He revels in the spotlight. He enjoys (way too much, I'm afraid) the adulation, gushing and celebrity. As of this writing everything we know about his visit reeks of phony tinsel and pumped-up enthusiasm, the worst aspects of Madison Avenue personified in one man.
I must also apologize, in advance, for what will surely be more thoughtless remarks which may come from the lips of Francis, if past events are any indication. I cringe when I imagine what he might say.
I as a Catholic am profoundly sorry to see this and I ask my non-Catholic friends and readers to realize that this is not normal, not proper and not holy. It is nothing other than a circus of excess, a jamboree, and it fills me with a deep sorrow over the sullied reputation of the Catholic Church. Glancing over the lineup of events and personages who will be involved in this pseudo rock concert leaves me with a sense of dread for the future. That it fits perfectly with the ethos of your typical Sunday Mass in most American parishes is an observation one cannot avoid making.
This extravaganza is not the Catholic Church; it is instead the cheapest of theatrical excesses. The real Church can be found in a quiet chapel or church somewhere, with God present in the Tabernacle, and quiet prayers being said by those who know why they are there.
When Pope John Paul II came to the US in 1979 there was a bit of celebration and hoopla, not all of which was bad, that accompanied him, and overall he kept as much of his dignity as was possible.
But in the case of our current Pope that is not so. He revels in the spotlight. He enjoys (way too much, I'm afraid) the adulation, gushing and celebrity. As of this writing everything we know about his visit reeks of phony tinsel and pumped-up enthusiasm, the worst aspects of Madison Avenue personified in one man.
I must also apologize, in advance, for what will surely be more thoughtless remarks which may come from the lips of Francis, if past events are any indication. I cringe when I imagine what he might say.
I as a Catholic am profoundly sorry to see this and I ask my non-Catholic friends and readers to realize that this is not normal, not proper and not holy. It is nothing other than a circus of excess, a jamboree, and it fills me with a deep sorrow over the sullied reputation of the Catholic Church. Glancing over the lineup of events and personages who will be involved in this pseudo rock concert leaves me with a sense of dread for the future. That it fits perfectly with the ethos of your typical Sunday Mass in most American parishes is an observation one cannot avoid making.
This extravaganza is not the Catholic Church; it is instead the cheapest of theatrical excesses. The real Church can be found in a quiet chapel or church somewhere, with God present in the Tabernacle, and quiet prayers being said by those who know why they are there.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
A "Spiritually dangerous" event is about to take place
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.676259
Heaven forbid that these poor, misguided people should convert, in order to save their souls. The ongoing tragedy of this nation must bring tears to the eyes of God.
Heaven forbid that these poor, misguided people should convert, in order to save their souls. The ongoing tragedy of this nation must bring tears to the eyes of God.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Made in the USA: the refugees
From Philip Giraldi:
"Everywhere people are fleeing the violence, which, among other benefits, has virtually obliterated the ancient Christian presence in the Middle East. Though I recognize that the refugee problem cannot be completely blamed on only one party, many of those millions would be alive and the refugees would for the most part be in their homes if it had not been for the catastrophic interventionist policies pursued by both Democratic and Republican administrations in the United States."
Read the rest here: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/a-refugee-crisis-made-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-7609627
"Everywhere people are fleeing the violence, which, among other benefits, has virtually obliterated the ancient Christian presence in the Middle East. Though I recognize that the refugee problem cannot be completely blamed on only one party, many of those millions would be alive and the refugees would for the most part be in their homes if it had not been for the catastrophic interventionist policies pursued by both Democratic and Republican administrations in the United States."
Read the rest here: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/a-refugee-crisis-made-in-america/comment-page-1/#comment-7609627
Mr Kasich: Please Go Away
This is a photo of John Kasich:
He looks like he is just about to throw up.
But actually it is we who are just about to throw up.
Because of John Kasich, yet another mealy-mouthed, hypocritical Republican.
Because he talks about how abortion is a "bad thing" but won't lift a little finger to do anything about it.
Because he is a typical Republican.
Because he is in a hopeless quest for the White House.
Because he is John Kasich....
....Who makes us want to throw up.
He looks like he is just about to throw up.
But actually it is we who are just about to throw up.
Because of John Kasich, yet another mealy-mouthed, hypocritical Republican.
Because he talks about how abortion is a "bad thing" but won't lift a little finger to do anything about it.
Because he is a typical Republican.
Because he is in a hopeless quest for the White House.
Because he is John Kasich....
....Who makes us want to throw up.
Monday, September 14, 2015
The Concerns Expressed in the "Secret Dossier"
A number of Churchmen are expressing alarm over what they believe to be the rashness of the Pope's Motu Proprio regarding a so-called "streamlining" of the annulment process. This writer would modify that to "a further streamlining" of the process, since it has been pretty thoroughly streamlined already in recent decades.
Nevertheless this latest move is causing extreme concern among high-ranking ecclesiastics, as well as good priests who see it as their duty to protect marriage. Dr Maike Hickson over at LifeSite News summarizes the points of concern:
The Church can easily suffer even more if these reforms are simply adopted without a lot more careful reasoning and a lot less impetuosity and rashness.
The motivations for this papal action are as yet unclear, given the often "forward then backward" words and actions of Francis. One hopes that he must see that this monkey wrench which he has just flung into the machinery opens up untold dangers on many fronts, and most certainly gives ammunition to the Church's enemies always so pleased to shout "hypocrisy!" whenever the occasion presents itself. Furthermore, it could do harm to the delicate relationship between Catholic and Orthodox believers, as any evidence of surrender on the Catholic side only makes it more difficult to put an end to the most unnecessary schism in history.
I am not sure what can be done to counter a papal Motu Proprio, if anything. More knowledgeable readers can help out on this question.
But from our poorly-informed perch on the Catholic tree we think the timing of this couldn't be worse.
Dr Hickson's article can be read at this link: https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/vatican-prelates-quietly-circulate-dossier-raising-concern-over-popes-annul
Nevertheless this latest move is causing extreme concern among high-ranking ecclesiastics, as well as good priests who see it as their duty to protect marriage. Dr Maike Hickson over at LifeSite News summarizes the points of concern:
- The Pope did not consult those commissions in the Vatican which would and should be responsible in counseling him in such an important matter as the annulment process;
- The Pope introduced de facto a “Catholic divorce”;
- The normal procedures of the legislation in the Universal Church have been thus levered out;
- Most of the safeguards in the process of annulling a marriage have been “intentionally 'eliminated'”;
- “None of the prescribed steps of a legislative procedure have been kept,” according to the dossier;
- The Bishops' Conferences, the relevant Congregations and Councils and even the Apostolic Signatura (the highest court of the Church also dealing with the annulments) were not consulted;
- “Already, formally, there are to be found grave defects [in the very making of the Motu Proprio]”;
- Against the often proclaimed and invited principles of synodality and of “openness” (i.e., “Parrhesia”), the Pope nonetheless decided seemingly rashly to go ahead with the Motu Proprio, even though at the last Synod of Bishops in 2014, there was not yet a “unanimous consent” to carry forth this streamlining move;
- The viewpoint has now changed, moving away from the concern to preserve marriages. In the Motu Proprio there is no talk anymore about “pastoral and juridical means for the rescue or validation of a marriage”; the fact that they are missing indeed “causes reflection”;
- All in all, this speedy development is “dangerous”;
- There is a strong impression that “it is not anymore about stating the truth concerning a concrete marriage bond, but, rather, about declaring to be invalid as many marriages as possible.”
- That means that, concretely, the Dogma of the indissolubility of marriage is being hollowed out, even though Pope Francis mentions the Dogma twice in his text;
- The introduction of a 30-day-quick procedure for the formal determination of a possible declaration of nullity of a marriage “contains the danger of introducing the path to a Catholic divorce”; many of the 3600 diocesan bishops in the world will be most probably overwhelmed by this new mission; additionally, the dossier wonders “how many bishops in the world are able to make a trustworthy assessment which also makes them come to the expected moral certainty [about the validity of a specific marriage]”;
- Many theologically contested problems have been simply ignored by Pope Francis;
- Several passages in the Motu Proprio contain very vague formulations which are purportedly to help someone decide whether the quick procedure itself ought to be started – such as someone's putatively “lacking Faith” or other reasons that are not unequivocally specified;
- The consensus of both spouses (or even the complete lack of response by one of them) is a sufficient reason in order to start the quick procedure, all of which is “concerning”;
- “It is a novelty in the legislation that a legal text ends with the expression 'etc.' and it thus thereby keeps open other options”;
- Pope Francis did not himself follow the regular procedures of legislation.
The Church can easily suffer even more if these reforms are simply adopted without a lot more careful reasoning and a lot less impetuosity and rashness.
The motivations for this papal action are as yet unclear, given the often "forward then backward" words and actions of Francis. One hopes that he must see that this monkey wrench which he has just flung into the machinery opens up untold dangers on many fronts, and most certainly gives ammunition to the Church's enemies always so pleased to shout "hypocrisy!" whenever the occasion presents itself. Furthermore, it could do harm to the delicate relationship between Catholic and Orthodox believers, as any evidence of surrender on the Catholic side only makes it more difficult to put an end to the most unnecessary schism in history.
I am not sure what can be done to counter a papal Motu Proprio, if anything. More knowledgeable readers can help out on this question.
But from our poorly-informed perch on the Catholic tree we think the timing of this couldn't be worse.
Dr Hickson's article can be read at this link: https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/vatican-prelates-quietly-circulate-dossier-raising-concern-over-popes-annul
The Wisconsin Big Businessmen Who Support the Hacking up of Children
Dr E Michael Jones has shown us how it is Big Business interests that support the sodomy movement, as illustrated in the case of the recent Indiana religious freedom bill, which went down to defeat when the corporate world flexed its muscles (to the delight of Washington). The collusion of Big Business with Big Government, aka Fascism, has never before been so blatant as it is in America right now - and not just in America, to be sure.
Jones, from the May 2015 Culture Wars publication:
“What puzzles me is how this effort came to the top of the legislative agenda when clearly the business community doesn’t support it,” said Bill Oesterle, an aide to former governor Mitch Daniels and CEO of consumer reporting agency Angie’s List, which has canceled expansion plans in Indianapolis because of the law. The incredulity in Oesterle’s statement was palpable. How was it possible that a Republican governor could not know that it was his job to represent the interests of the rich? Only in Indiana was a gaffe of this magnitude possible.
Blinded by their allegiance to sexual revolution, and crippled by the inferiority complex that is second nature to editors from the provinces, the local media supported Capitalism’s attack on the sovereignty of the state of Indiana by framing opposition to RFRA as an economic issue. The so-called “business community” opposed RFRA. In fact, “Executives at some of Indiana’s largest businesses have been among the loud voices opposed to the state’s recently passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” According to Jim Seitz, president of 1st Source Bank, “Discrimination is wrong on any front.” That pretty much said it all, as far as the CEOs were concerned. All that was left to do was to call in the CEO of Salesforce and have him re-write Indiana’s law to fit their plutocratic specifications. The effrontery of the CEO crowd was truly astonishing,
Now Dad29 gives us a list of the Wisconsin bigwigs who want to keep the hideous practices of ghouls like Planned Parenthood legal. If the CEOs think sodomy is a grand idea, as Dr Jones shows with such clarity, why not selling the body parts of unborn kids, too? Here in all its ugliness is Capitalism run amok; here is what the great Popes of the past were warning us would happen if this kind of money-grubbing went unchecked, and what our current Pope should be saying when criticizing capitalism - not in vague generalities but in specifics like what happened in Indiana and Wisconsin and elsewhere.
http://dad29.blogspot.com/2015/09/wi-chamber-money-before-morality.html
Read carefully the names of these companies, write their owners, and boycott them.
We thank Dad for this effort.
Jones, from the May 2015 Culture Wars publication:
“What puzzles me is how this effort came to the top of the legislative agenda when clearly the business community doesn’t support it,” said Bill Oesterle, an aide to former governor Mitch Daniels and CEO of consumer reporting agency Angie’s List, which has canceled expansion plans in Indianapolis because of the law. The incredulity in Oesterle’s statement was palpable. How was it possible that a Republican governor could not know that it was his job to represent the interests of the rich? Only in Indiana was a gaffe of this magnitude possible.
Blinded by their allegiance to sexual revolution, and crippled by the inferiority complex that is second nature to editors from the provinces, the local media supported Capitalism’s attack on the sovereignty of the state of Indiana by framing opposition to RFRA as an economic issue. The so-called “business community” opposed RFRA. In fact, “Executives at some of Indiana’s largest businesses have been among the loud voices opposed to the state’s recently passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” According to Jim Seitz, president of 1st Source Bank, “Discrimination is wrong on any front.” That pretty much said it all, as far as the CEOs were concerned. All that was left to do was to call in the CEO of Salesforce and have him re-write Indiana’s law to fit their plutocratic specifications. The effrontery of the CEO crowd was truly astonishing,
Now Dad29 gives us a list of the Wisconsin bigwigs who want to keep the hideous practices of ghouls like Planned Parenthood legal. If the CEOs think sodomy is a grand idea, as Dr Jones shows with such clarity, why not selling the body parts of unborn kids, too? Here in all its ugliness is Capitalism run amok; here is what the great Popes of the past were warning us would happen if this kind of money-grubbing went unchecked, and what our current Pope should be saying when criticizing capitalism - not in vague generalities but in specifics like what happened in Indiana and Wisconsin and elsewhere.
http://dad29.blogspot.com/2015/09/wi-chamber-money-before-morality.html
Read carefully the names of these companies, write their owners, and boycott them.
We thank Dad for this effort.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Francis, denying Christ is not a very good idea
This is not good.
If this news report is accurate, the Holy Father has done something unforgivable.
http://crownheights.info/picture-of-the-day/499531/picture-of-the-day-rivkah-would-not-bow/
He hides the Cross of Christ from this Jewish politician. He bows before that politician, but with the arrogance typical of the leaders of Israel, she refuses to bow back. Apologists have been quick to point out that this "was all arranged beforehand", though I fail to see how that mitigates against the disastrously shocking papal action.
The other question is equally important to ask: is Jewish effrontery towards Catholicism so strong that no one will rebuke them for it? Not even Muslims require the Pope to cover the cross when they come to Rome. It is all well and good to speak about Christ when giving homilies, talks, speeches, etc. But it is especially important not to deny the cross when in the presence of unbelievers. Seeing that cross may be the beginning of a process of conversion. All the talk surrounding this centers upon the need for "diplomacy".
Diplomacy is one thing. Failing to defend the Cross is another.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Just what law was that, Mr Trump and Judge Napolitano?
Mr Donald Trump has castigated Mrs Kim Davis for not following "the law".
So has the usually perceptive Judge Napolitano.
Heavens! Pass the smelling salts.
Exactly what law, Mr Trump and Judge Napolitano? Do you mean the ridiculous and unjust decree of five tyrannical employees of the Federal Government, sometimes amusingly referred to as "the supreme court"?
Since you are too lazy or too vapid to find out the truth, let me inform you that Mrs Davis was following the law - the law passed by the State of Kentucky, which was laughingly "struck down" by those five government employees.
Pat Buchanan asks:
The minute a moral issue is at stake the Republicans run for cover like cockroaches, because those who finance their presidential aspirations, like billionaire Sheldon Adelson, are in favor of sodomy and abortion. In other words, Mr Trump is quickly morphing into yet another tiresome Republican who will do nothing to stop the rot that is destroying this country.
As for Judge Napolitano, let us remind him of the words of lawyer Thomas More: "An unjust law is no law at all."
I was once mildly interested in your candidacy, Mr Trump, if for no other reason than you were at least saying something different for once from the rest of the herd. Thank you for showing us that you are nothing but another useless and cowardly Republican, all of whom are no better than the equally useless Democrats.
So has the usually perceptive Judge Napolitano.
Heavens! Pass the smelling salts.
Exactly what law, Mr Trump and Judge Napolitano? Do you mean the ridiculous and unjust decree of five tyrannical employees of the Federal Government, sometimes amusingly referred to as "the supreme court"?
Since you are too lazy or too vapid to find out the truth, let me inform you that Mrs Davis was following the law - the law passed by the State of Kentucky, which was laughingly "struck down" by those five government employees.
Pat Buchanan asks:
Whence, then, did this “law” come?
Answer: This is a creation of a Supreme Court that has usurped the legislative power to impose a secularist anti-Christian ideology on a nation, much of which still rejects it, but has no recourse against it.
A right to same-sex marriage was no more in the Constitution as written or amended than was a woman’s right to have an abortion.
The minute a moral issue is at stake the Republicans run for cover like cockroaches, because those who finance their presidential aspirations, like billionaire Sheldon Adelson, are in favor of sodomy and abortion. In other words, Mr Trump is quickly morphing into yet another tiresome Republican who will do nothing to stop the rot that is destroying this country.
As for Judge Napolitano, let us remind him of the words of lawyer Thomas More: "An unjust law is no law at all."
I was once mildly interested in your candidacy, Mr Trump, if for no other reason than you were at least saying something different for once from the rest of the herd. Thank you for showing us that you are nothing but another useless and cowardly Republican, all of whom are no better than the equally useless Democrats.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
A Papal Booby-trap
This is a dangerous business.
I am not alone in being concerned that the Pope's new instant annulment process is just a part of the stage-management that has been going on by the movers and shakers of the upcoming Synod. It seems clear enough - especially by the timing - that this is a maneuver to both win some hearts and minds - uncritical hearts and minds, that is - while at the same time greasing the skids for the more radical moves that are intended for October.
Even Cardinal Burke, who is more than a little familiar with the annulment process and was active in that arena in its liberalized state, is uneasy about this, calling the easing of the annulment process "sentimentalism and false compassion." What His Eminence did not say is that it was already far too easy to get one, and even on the flimsiest of pretexts.
Let us face some cold, hard facts. The annulment process in recent decades has been an absolute farce. In America especially. It is so farcical that critics of the Church have rightly called it "Catholic divorce". A good example: a man and a woman (known to this writer) married seventeen years and the parents of seven children were granted an annulment. No wife-beating was involved. The husband was far from perfect but the wife had had enough of him. So their marriage was declared to have "never existed in the first place".
Whether the husband was a bounder or not, they were still sacramentally married.
That is one story among thousands. The number of annulments granted in recent decades is by any standard ridiculous; in the past 2,000 years there were probably 82 annulments given by the Church. Now they give out 82 per day. It is as if the Marx Brothers were put in charge of marriage tribunals.
The cheers from Catholics anxious to dump their spouses is deafening. The cheers from supine clergymen supporting this new Francis edict are also deafening. Fence-sitting Catholics, always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, are cautiously optimistic by this. But all of these souls are falling into a booby-trap which will explode next month. By their cheers of support they are providing a faux consesus for a Pope who it seems wants to show a false mercy towards divorced and remarried people and, far worse, homosexual cohabitation. If the Modernists can gain Catholic support for this new "merciful" annulment process the laid trap will be snapped in a few weeks.
The earmarks of Hollywood-style PR do seem to be all over this. It reeks of contrivance. Once again our emotions are being manipulated by clever men. As far as the "merciful" aspect of this latest Francis move we remain sceptical. Our common sense tells us that even more chaos is ahead, courtesy of the strange man who now occupies the Petrine Office.
Since 2013 we have learned at least one thing: Pope Francis seems to enjoy throwing gasoline on roaring fires.
UPDATE 10 September 2015:
The great Robert de Mattei weighs in: http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2015/09/roberto-de-mattei-christian-matrimony.html
I am not alone in being concerned that the Pope's new instant annulment process is just a part of the stage-management that has been going on by the movers and shakers of the upcoming Synod. It seems clear enough - especially by the timing - that this is a maneuver to both win some hearts and minds - uncritical hearts and minds, that is - while at the same time greasing the skids for the more radical moves that are intended for October.
Even Cardinal Burke, who is more than a little familiar with the annulment process and was active in that arena in its liberalized state, is uneasy about this, calling the easing of the annulment process "sentimentalism and false compassion." What His Eminence did not say is that it was already far too easy to get one, and even on the flimsiest of pretexts.
Let us face some cold, hard facts. The annulment process in recent decades has been an absolute farce. In America especially. It is so farcical that critics of the Church have rightly called it "Catholic divorce". A good example: a man and a woman (known to this writer) married seventeen years and the parents of seven children were granted an annulment. No wife-beating was involved. The husband was far from perfect but the wife had had enough of him. So their marriage was declared to have "never existed in the first place".
Whether the husband was a bounder or not, they were still sacramentally married.
That is one story among thousands. The number of annulments granted in recent decades is by any standard ridiculous; in the past 2,000 years there were probably 82 annulments given by the Church. Now they give out 82 per day. It is as if the Marx Brothers were put in charge of marriage tribunals.
The cheers from Catholics anxious to dump their spouses is deafening. The cheers from supine clergymen supporting this new Francis edict are also deafening. Fence-sitting Catholics, always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, are cautiously optimistic by this. But all of these souls are falling into a booby-trap which will explode next month. By their cheers of support they are providing a faux consesus for a Pope who it seems wants to show a false mercy towards divorced and remarried people and, far worse, homosexual cohabitation. If the Modernists can gain Catholic support for this new "merciful" annulment process the laid trap will be snapped in a few weeks.
The earmarks of Hollywood-style PR do seem to be all over this. It reeks of contrivance. Once again our emotions are being manipulated by clever men. As far as the "merciful" aspect of this latest Francis move we remain sceptical. Our common sense tells us that even more chaos is ahead, courtesy of the strange man who now occupies the Petrine Office.
Since 2013 we have learned at least one thing: Pope Francis seems to enjoy throwing gasoline on roaring fires.
UPDATE 10 September 2015:
The great Robert de Mattei weighs in: http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2015/09/roberto-de-mattei-christian-matrimony.html
Neil Clark is STILL confused
I’m confused about quite a lot of things going on in the world. The West is supposed to be fighting ISIS, yet seems keener on toppling a government which is fighting ISIS. A refugee crisis caused by Western interventions is being used as a pretext for more Western wars.
Elite media commentators keen to stress their humanitarianism, cry ‘something must be done’ about Syria, yet appear not to notice the on-going humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.
There are violent anti-government protests again in Ukraine, but the reaction from the US is very different to when there were violent anti-government protests in Ukraine eighteen months ago. What on earth is going on? Perhaps you can help me sort out my confusion…
The first thing I’m confused about is the refugee crisis currently affecting Europe.
The vast majority of refugees are coming from countries e.g. Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, which were targeted by the West for ‘regime change’ and which experienced bombing/invasion or destabilization by NATO powers and their regional allies.
We’re told by the West’s political elite and much of the media that in order to stop the influx of refugees to Europe we need to do more bombing.
Maybe Pope Francis, in addition to his call for taking in refugees, could ask The US, the UK and other countries to stop bombing the Middle East??
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Europe's Refugee Problem - Another view
Watching live footage of the “refugees” arriving in Munich, it is difficult not to be struck by how non refugee-like they look. Many are well shod in expensive-looking western sneakers, wearing Adidas and other western name-brand clothing, fingering their smart phones. Mostly men of, as they say, fighting age. What few women we do see appear mostly fashionably dressed with healthy and happy looking babies.
It is de rigueur at the moment to express unconditional sympathy for those currently streaming in to Europe from, we are told, mostly Syria, to the point where it is probably risky to even entertain questions about the “rest of the story.” Indeed, I have been among the first to write sympathetically about their plight and to lay the blame on the disastrous US-and-allies foreign policy of regime change. But it is hard to avoid this strange feeling that on many fronts this story is not exactly as it is being covered in the western mainstream media.
Read the rest of the article here: https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/refugees-arrive-in-munich-whats-the-endgame/
Friday, September 4, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Israel Shamir from Moscow: The Die is Cast
This important article from Israel Shamir deserves the most careful study by anyone who is trying to make sense out of the suffering of Christians in Syria and elsewhere under ISIS and other fanatics. How clear and concise it is compared with the mouth fog coming from the US Establishment Elite and their media.
The article is a tonic against the noxious brew we have been drinking for far too long and an antidote to some pretty specious propaganda force-fed to English-speaking nations. If we wish to understand the real tragedy of Christian suffering in the Middle East, if we want to be able to detect when we are being lied to, then this piece is vital. From the article:
Russia is worried by successes of Da’esh, as this force fights and displaces Christians in Syria, while Russia considers itself a traditional protector of these people. Russia is also worried that Da’esh may begin operations in Muslim areas of Russia, in the Caucasus and on the Volga River. And the US-led anti-Da’esh coalition didn’t do the trick.
The US and Turkey ostensibly fight Da’esh [ISIS], but they have their own interests, quite different from those of Syrians, Europeans and Russians. Turkey fights the Kurds who are staunch opponents of Da’esh. The US uses the war with Da’esh as a smokescreen to fight the legitimate government of Bashar Assad who was recently re-elected by vast majority of the Syrians. Da’esh does not suffer much from the US raids, as opposed to the Syrian Army. Moreover, the US sent hundreds of trained terrorists to Syria after providing them with a military upgrade in Jordan and elsewhere.
Catholics are the ones being force-fed the most and in the most clever manner. An intellectual Catholic is trotted out and explains to the great unwashed of the Faith why they must cheer on the destruction of entire civilizations. Many of these good Catholics are entirely clueless about the Middle East and as long as some horrendous beheading video can be produced (as if on cue, I might add) they are easily led astray by agenda-driven pundits who use their revulsion in order to build a consensus supporting their plans. The uncritical and unthinking are well served by such dubious individuals as fear-mongering William Kilpatrick (who has graced the pages of Crisis, the Catholic World Report and other venues with his mendacious twisting of the actual facts on the ground in order to serve those who write his checks, notably the Shillman Foundation) and his equally blood-thirsty associates Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch (funded by Trotskyite David Horowitz among others of his persuasion) and the hysterical Pamela Geller. Kilpatrick, who styles himself a Catholic, seems to have few scruples about incinerating innocent people as long as they were turbans or face veils and as such is particularly offensive. It remains a mystery to this writer why a fine publication like Crisis can still allow articles by Kilpatrick to appear on their pages.
In any case, if you have a desire to know who is protecting the Christians in the Middle East and who is not, read Shamir:
http://www.unz.com/ishamir/the-die-is-cast/
The article is a tonic against the noxious brew we have been drinking for far too long and an antidote to some pretty specious propaganda force-fed to English-speaking nations. If we wish to understand the real tragedy of Christian suffering in the Middle East, if we want to be able to detect when we are being lied to, then this piece is vital. From the article:
Russia is worried by successes of Da’esh, as this force fights and displaces Christians in Syria, while Russia considers itself a traditional protector of these people. Russia is also worried that Da’esh may begin operations in Muslim areas of Russia, in the Caucasus and on the Volga River. And the US-led anti-Da’esh coalition didn’t do the trick.
The US and Turkey ostensibly fight Da’esh [ISIS], but they have their own interests, quite different from those of Syrians, Europeans and Russians. Turkey fights the Kurds who are staunch opponents of Da’esh. The US uses the war with Da’esh as a smokescreen to fight the legitimate government of Bashar Assad who was recently re-elected by vast majority of the Syrians. Da’esh does not suffer much from the US raids, as opposed to the Syrian Army. Moreover, the US sent hundreds of trained terrorists to Syria after providing them with a military upgrade in Jordan and elsewhere.
Catholics are the ones being force-fed the most and in the most clever manner. An intellectual Catholic is trotted out and explains to the great unwashed of the Faith why they must cheer on the destruction of entire civilizations. Many of these good Catholics are entirely clueless about the Middle East and as long as some horrendous beheading video can be produced (as if on cue, I might add) they are easily led astray by agenda-driven pundits who use their revulsion in order to build a consensus supporting their plans. The uncritical and unthinking are well served by such dubious individuals as fear-mongering William Kilpatrick (who has graced the pages of Crisis, the Catholic World Report and other venues with his mendacious twisting of the actual facts on the ground in order to serve those who write his checks, notably the Shillman Foundation) and his equally blood-thirsty associates Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch (funded by Trotskyite David Horowitz among others of his persuasion) and the hysterical Pamela Geller. Kilpatrick, who styles himself a Catholic, seems to have few scruples about incinerating innocent people as long as they were turbans or face veils and as such is particularly offensive. It remains a mystery to this writer why a fine publication like Crisis can still allow articles by Kilpatrick to appear on their pages.
In any case, if you have a desire to know who is protecting the Christians in the Middle East and who is not, read Shamir:
http://www.unz.com/ishamir/the-die-is-cast/
Black Queers Matter
The media is drawing your attention away from his serious sexual-psychological problems and steering it toward (yawn) guns. I guess "The Narrative" (sodomy: good, guns: bad) must be kept going at all costs, even in the face of the evidence of one's own eyes.
The Daily Mail is not going to be a water-carrier on this one.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3212505/He-driving-like-maniac-YouTube-video-emerges-capturing-Virginia-gunman-Vester-Lee-Flanagan-July-road-rage-incident.html
The Narrators want to channel this horror into the usual tripe about "gun violence" or, as an afterthought, "mental illness". But no one is talking about the fact that a man who would so degrade himself by the practice of sodomy has "mental" issues because of that. To lower himself to a level even lower than animals is surely one of the main reasons why the murderer lost his reason and did what he did.
But none of this will ever be discussed because according to such luminaries as Barack Obama and Walter Kasper, sodomy is a good thing, which brings us many gifts.
The Daily Mail is not going to be a water-carrier on this one.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3212505/He-driving-like-maniac-YouTube-video-emerges-capturing-Virginia-gunman-Vester-Lee-Flanagan-July-road-rage-incident.html
The Narrators want to channel this horror into the usual tripe about "gun violence" or, as an afterthought, "mental illness". But no one is talking about the fact that a man who would so degrade himself by the practice of sodomy has "mental" issues because of that. To lower himself to a level even lower than animals is surely one of the main reasons why the murderer lost his reason and did what he did.
But none of this will ever be discussed because according to such luminaries as Barack Obama and Walter Kasper, sodomy is a good thing, which brings us many gifts.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
A confusing Pope makes another interesting move
To this writer, and to many more, the current Pope is a whirlwind of contradictions. One day we can rejoice; the next day we are in sorrow. The faithful are kept on tenterhooks night and day.
Today he has offered his hand to the Society of St Pius X, and in a most interesting manner:
http://catholicism.org/pope-francis-priests-of-sspx-absolve-validly-and-licitly-during-holy-year-of-mercy.html
Given the see-saw actions of this papacy it is a little too early to assess this, but initial impressions suggest a genuine sense of mercy, for once, may be in the offing. If true, we can then assume that in the mind and soul of the Pope there is a tug-of-war in progress between his own inclinations and the wishes of the Holy Ghost. And now we know why we should pray for the Pope.
Of course this could all come crashing down if the Sodomy Synod goes the Kasperian way. If the Modernists are again triumphant next month it will not only shatter any goodwill between the Society and Rome, it will destroy the Church. And when the Church is destroyed the world will follow.
The money quote from the Pope's statement is this:
A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint. I trust that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity. In the meantime, motivated by the need to respond to the good of these faithful, through my own disposition, I establish that those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly receive the absolution of their sins.
May this be the beginning, at last, of an end to an unjust persecution.
Today he has offered his hand to the Society of St Pius X, and in a most interesting manner:
http://catholicism.org/pope-francis-priests-of-sspx-absolve-validly-and-licitly-during-holy-year-of-mercy.html
Given the see-saw actions of this papacy it is a little too early to assess this, but initial impressions suggest a genuine sense of mercy, for once, may be in the offing. If true, we can then assume that in the mind and soul of the Pope there is a tug-of-war in progress between his own inclinations and the wishes of the Holy Ghost. And now we know why we should pray for the Pope.
Of course this could all come crashing down if the Sodomy Synod goes the Kasperian way. If the Modernists are again triumphant next month it will not only shatter any goodwill between the Society and Rome, it will destroy the Church. And when the Church is destroyed the world will follow.
The money quote from the Pope's statement is this:
A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint. I trust that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity. In the meantime, motivated by the need to respond to the good of these faithful, through my own disposition, I establish that those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly receive the absolution of their sins.
May this be the beginning, at last, of an end to an unjust persecution.