I think, Julia, that people overdo the criticism of Pope Francis when they infer or outright claim that he is a Communist. I recall another reference to the Pope being soft on Communism because he said something to the effect that Communists had appropriated some aspects of Catholic social teaching. As far as I can remember, that quote wasn't from a Scalfari interview so it's possible that Scalfari misrepresented what the Pope actually said. The Pope isn't wrong about the Communists using Catholic social teaching to their own ends. Your encounter with your colleague Rosa is an example of that. Catholic doctrine tells us that oppression of the poor and defrauding the worker of a just wage are sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance. When Christians fail to ensure that the Doctrine is reflected in the laws and common practice in Christian countries it's meat and drink for Communists. We don't know what kind of atrocities Pope Francis witnessed living under "anti-Communist" regimes in Argentina. I suspect that those experiences may explain some of his antipathy towards American conservatives, especially Christian conservatives. Young people tend to be idealistic and can smell hypocrisy a mile off and we Catholics have our share of hypocrites. I think we could give the Pope the benefit of the doubt on this because he could be trying to undo the negative image of the Church as the wealthy at prayer. We know that to be a false image but there's no denying it's an image perceived by many especially among the young and the poor in parts of the world. Liberation theology probably began as an attempt to help the poor and oppressed per Catholic social teaching and its proponents went off the rails. There's no reason the Pope should let their errors prevent him from attempting now to evangelise people being led astray by Communism.
I think that if this pope's problem were exclusively to have sympathy for communist leaders like Brazilian president Lula da Silva and Fidel Castro, that would be bad enough, but he manages to go further, as he did in the American elections when he publicly stated that Trump was not a Christian. Your opponent is a strong supporter of abortion, but building a wall on the border with Mexico might be worse. Considering that just a few weeks ago Francis gave a filmed statement to Italian TV that he wanted to believe that hell is empty, I think we should give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Eugenio Scalfari with regards to when he stated that Francisco denied its existence in an interview in 2018.
This wonderful bishop speaks with such clarity using Scripture and the Church's perennial wisdom. And briefly to boot. All I can say is: Amen!
I suppose it is a very,very good Sign indeed that so many Cardinals, Bishops, Bishop Conferences, Religious Orders , Institutions, theologians and priests have rejected the Abominable Sodomite Blessings. I had just about given up hope. It is a source of great joy and pride. Prayers for the conversion of all in the Vatican.
The Holy Father explains for those who still don't understand this new sacrilegious sacramental approved by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith... Regarding the blessing of homosexual 'couples', the homosexual union is not blessed, but homosexual people who have a homosexual union and ask for a blessing together...
What's heartbreaking is that there was and still is an approved Catholic apostolate for helping and encouraging people who suffer from SSA. The name, Courage, was very apt, imho. Unsurprisingly, the usual suspects have attacked it over the years. But the group has had the support of some of the best ~ from wikipedia: "The current executive director of Courage, International is Father Philip Bochanski. Bochanski identifies the group's five goals as: living chastity; developing a life of prayer and dedication; helping one another by sharing experiences; forming chaste friendships; and giving good examples to others.[11] Courage and Ignatius Press organized a Pre-Synod conference, "Living the Truth in Love", which took place in Rome on 2 October 2015 to address the pastoral needs of gay Catholics. The conference featured George Cardinal Pell and Robert Cardinal Sarah, and Jennifer Roback Morse of the Ruth Institute, among other speakers; it also heard the testimony of Catholic homosexuals who followed the doctrine of the Church on sexuality.[12]"
I’m just wondering if I misread something in the Old Testament, I’ll have to go back and read again. Was Sodom & Gomorrah blessed by God? Did Noah bless Canaan?
Ok, I admit that I still haven't had yet and I don't know when I will have the patience to read the theoretical framework of this weird thing that the Vatican released on social media. A few weeks after the Vatican approved blessings for paires of homosexual fornicators, and when the holy communion for persistent and obstinate adulterers has already been part of the magisterium of this new Bergoglian church for some years, the Vatican publishes the Holy Father's message for Lent 2024 through this graphic illustration: As I haven't read it yet, like many people who will never read it, I will limit myself, at first, to reading the graphic message. What do I see in this poster? I see the Holy Father carrying a tightly closed rubbish bag, the contents of which are identified with the word “Faith”, taking it away from the light. The caption of the image says: “Through the Desert God Leads us to Freedom”, being the desert represented with a dangerous surface covered with sharp nails pointing upwards that the Holy Father's driving avoids during his path... When I have patience I will try to read the official explanation from the Vatican.
Belarusian bishops refuse to bless same-sex couples as it ‘may be perceived… as consent to sin’ [That's Latin Rite Catholic Church in Belarus] https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/b...les-as-it-may-be-perceived-as-consent-to-sin/
The people of God react in Seville Spanish Catholics gathered today in Seville to pray a rosary of reparation and retribution for the blasphemous Holy Week 2024 poster and the conversion of its author and supporters and demand that the local Catholic hierarchy take a stance.
