Nabi Sayeth: God’s people, especially the leaders, have a history of rejecting Him time and time again because of a skewed sense of independence and the misuse of the gift of freedom, Yet He never ceases to reach out to us to rescue us from our prideful arrogance. In ancient times and actually throughout our history God sent messengers called Prophets in an attempt to call us back to our senses after we had gotten ourselves in trouble.
I do believe Archbishop Vigano is one of those Prophets. In a recent letter, one written at great risk to his own life, he calls to task the corrupt hierarchy of the Catholic Church from Pope Francis on down. And he does so as one who is a former insider:
On the Feast of the North American Martyrs
To bear witness to corruption in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church was a painful decision for me, and remains so. But I am an old man, one who knows he must soon give an accounting to the Judge for his actions and omissions, one who fears Him who can cast body and soul into hell. A Judge who, even in his infinite mercy, will render to every person salvation or damnation according to what he has deserved. Anticipating the dreadful question from that Judge -- "How could you, who had knowledge of the truth, keep silent in the midst of falsehood and depravity?" -- what answer could I give?
I testified fully aware that my testimony would bring alarm and dismay to many eminent persons: churchmen, fellow bishops, colleagues with whom I had worked and prayed. I knew many would feel wounded and betrayed. I expected that some would in their turn assail me and my motives. Most painful of all, I knew that many of the innocent faithful would be confused and disconcerted by the spectacle of a bishop's charging colleagues and superiors with malfeasance, sexual sin, and grave neglect of duty. Yet I believe that my continued silence would put many souls at risk, and would certainly damn my own. Having reported multiple times to my superiors, and even to the pope, the aberrant behavior of Theodore McCarrick, I could have publicly denounced the truths of which I was aware earlier. If I have some responsibility in this delay, I repent for that. This delay was due to the gravity of the decision I was going to take, and to the long travail of my conscience.
I have been accused of creating confusion and division in the Church through my testimony. To those who believe such confusion and division were negligible prior to August 2018, perhaps such a claim is plausible. Most impartial observers, however, will have been aware of a longstanding excess of both, as is inevitable when the successor of Peter is negligent in exercising his principal mission, which is to confirm the brothers in the faith and in sound moral doctrine. When he then exacerbates the crisis by contradictory or perplexing statements about these doctrines, the confusion is worsened.
Therefore I spoke. For it is the conspiracy of silence that has wrought and continues to wreak great harm in the Church -- harm to so many innocent souls, to young priestly vocations, to the faithful at large. With regard to my decision, which I have taken in conscience before God, I willingly accept every fraternal correction, advice, recommendation, and invitation to progress in my life of faith and love for Christ, the Church and the pope.
Archbishop Vigano serves Christ and His Church with his prophetic call to repentance. Pray for him!
As the result of his Prophetic witness Vigano has encountered criticism, slander, false accusations and because of his insider knowledge has been forced into hiding for fear of his very life. My Friends, this is happening within the Catholic Church!
Vigano is doing nothing more than speaking Truth, a Truth that has the power to set those immersed in corruption free. But instead they are repulsed by Truth. He is seen as a threat to their prideful sense of power.
Notice the similarity of Vigano’s message to that of the Prophet Jeremiah when he spoke to the corrupt leadership of his own day:
Jeremiah 25:
4 The LORD kept sending you all his servants the prophets, but you refused to listen or pay attention
5 to this message: Turn back, each of you, from your evil way and from your evil deeds; then you shall remain in the land which the LORD gave you and your ancestors, from of old and forever. 6 Do not follow other gods to serve and bow down to them; do not provoke me with the works of your hands, or I will bring evil upon you.7 But you would not listen to me, and so you provoked me with the works of your hands to your own harm. The response of the corrupt leadership in Jeremiah’s day? Attack the messenger. Discredit him. Ridicule him. Destroy him. Silence him…...
The Book of Wisdom gives us an look inside of the hearts and minds of those corrupt leaders who refuse to listen to the Prophet, the Just One:
Wisdom 2:
12 Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us; he opposes our actions, Reproaches us for transgressions of the lawand charges us with violations of our training.
13 He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.
14 To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
15 Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways.
16 He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the righteous and boasts that God is his Father.
17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
Yes, the hierarchy of Jeremiah’s day scoffed at God’s words of judgment that passed through his lips. Jeremiah suffered greatly, his health and life often at risk, but he had no choice but to speak….and speak he did. His eyes were permitted to witness the fate of those who had rejected God by bringing great harm upon God’s chosen people. The end result, the day of Judgment was horrifying:
Jeremiah 25:
34 Howl, you shepherds, and wail! roll on the ground, leaders of the flock! The time for your slaughter has come; like choice rams you shall fall.
35 There is no flight for the shepherds, no escape for the leaders of the flock.
36 Listen! Wailing from the shepherds, howling from the leaders of the flock! For the LORD lays waste their grazing place;
37 desolate are the peaceful pastures, from the burning wrath of the LORD.
Archbishop Vigano has very clearly been called to preach judgment and repentance to the corrupt hierarchy and their chancery minions in our own day. God does not want them to die forever in condemnation. Vigano’s message is a call, perhaps a final call to complete conversion.
Unfortunately, it appears that the corrupt ones choose to scoff rather than surrender…..may they convert before it’s too late….
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