The Decline of Gravitas in a Culture of Whiny Child Adults

This morning at Mass, our pastor read a letter from Fr. Davide Pagliarani to the lay faithful about the current situation between the SSPX and the Vatican. It offered consolation and encouragement, something the laity certainly haven't received from our father in Rome sad to say. It also manifested a virtue that one seldom hears about today -- gravitas, a seriousness and dignity, not to mention respect and concern for the laity. It was inspiring to listen to it. It's not published online yet, but no doubt will be by the time I return from my retreat. I'll post it then.

The Adventure of Cleaning Up "Hot Spots" - Thinking about the next pope!

Cardinal Péter Erdő 

Every now and then I start hyperventilating over the clutter. Much of it consists of stacks of back issues of magazines and newspapers that I haven't read but hate to just throw in the recycle bin. I usually read through the table of contents and the headlines to see if something catches my eye that I want to read.

Yesterday, I picked up Issue 1 2023 of The Traditionalist with a fascinating article by Edward Pentin, a chapter from his book on likely papal candidates in the next conclave. The focus was on Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Primate of Hungary.

Summary of the Synod part 1 and It's not good! Are We Surprised?

Set up for the Delphi Technique under the eye of the serpent

In an interview with Vatican journalist Edward Pentin, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller gave his assessment of the process and the goal of radicals in the group. Nothing he says is really a surprise in view of the previous synods which all had manipulated outcomes to undermine the faith. This one so obviously used the Delphi Technique that anyone familiar with it could recognize what was happening. More on that later. The cardinal's interview appeared in the National Catholic Register with this introduction:

The Pope's at it Again. Traditional Catholics Have a "Nostalgic Disease!"

The pope's statement reminds me of the pro-abortion people who called pregnancy a disease. They hated the babies. Pope Francis appears to hate what the Church celebrated for over 1500 years! It's like a person who repudiates his family and all his ancestors because he's embarrassed by their language and customs. So sad!

Pope Francis again gives his reasons for #TraditionisCustodes in a meeting with Jesuits in Hungary, April 29, saying it was to stop “indietrismo” — going backwards “in an ideological way.” The contents of the meeting were published today by @civcatt https://t.co/wlTMmXGvy1 pic.twitter.com/ZrfE2wYtMS

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) May 9, 2023

Canon Lawyer, Fr. Réginald-Marie Rivoire, Eviscerates Traditionis Custodes

Edward Pentin posted a tweet a few days ago about a new book criticizing Traditionis Custodes. Despite the fact that many canon lawyers are saying the same thing as Fr. Rivoire, most bishops have all done the proverbial bootlicking, bending the knee to Francis like he bent the knee to the leaders of the Sudan. 

Here's Pentin's tweet:

CANCEL THE YOUTH SYNOD! BISHOPS "HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CREDIBILITY!"

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia,
a bishop with some common sense!

Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia has called for cancellation of the Youth Synod scheduled for October. Thank God for a voice of reason! At a recent conference he said, “I have written the Holy Father and called on him to cancel the upcoming synod on young people. Right now, the bishops would have absolutely no credibility in addressing this topic!"

What an understatement! Not only that, but it's become clearer and clearer that the agenda for these events is to undermine Church's teaching on a whole panoply of issues. Journalist Edward Pentin who reported on the two synods on the family in 2014-2015 pointed that out at the alternative meeting in Dublin last week during the World Meeting on the Family. (What sad times we live in when orthodox Catholics have to stage alternative meetings to address the dissent and error of the "official" events.) Here's part of what he said in his talk:

Fr. Spadaro and the Long Knives for Raymond Arroyo!

My colleague at Restore D.C. Catholicism has a great post on Fr. Spadaro's attack on Raymond Arroyo.

Father Spadaro Points Long Knives At Raymond Arroyo - Call Him Out On It

Spadaro retweeted a silly Twitter post calling for EWTN to be put under interdict unless they fire Arroyo for daring to criticize some of the appalling swill being brewed at the Vatican. Really...the vindictiveness of these clerics staggers the imagination. They strain at the gnat of orthodoxy and swallow whole the camel of heresy. I posted on Spadaro awhile ago pointing out how disingenuous he is. That seems to be a common quality of FOF (Friends of Francis).

#DraintheVaticanSwamp

Edward Pentin exposes the drug-fueled homosexual cabal at the Vatican. God bless him for not being afraid to earn the enmity of top Vatican officials. 

And which of the Vatican officials is sitting on the rock thinking of ways to rid himself of this troublesome Vatican reporter?

Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio?
Cardinal Walter Kasper?
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri?
Fr. James Martin?
Any number of others at the Vatican!

Well...as I used to tell my children: "Just because someone is wearing a roman collar doesn't mean he's telling you the truth. It's more true today than 25 years ago when my children were teenagers. Now I'm repeating that advice to my older grandchildren. Test the spirits. And if it stinks, don't eat it!

Will the Ordinary Synod be Manipulated Like the Extraordinary Synod?

I'm reading Edward Pentin's book about Rigging the Synod. Wow! If you want a lesson in Church politics read the book. Thank God we know the Holy Spirit protects the Church, because the number of Judases among the hierarchy appears to be legion. The Synod will never change the doctrine, but the wicked bishops can make it APPEAR that doctrine has changed and that's all they care about. Why do so many Catholic reject Church teaching on contraception? Because of the lies and manipulation after Humanae Vitae. How many people have suffered serious problems as a result. You cannot lie with your body telling your spouse you give everything when you hold back your greatest gift, the capacity to give life. How the demons laugh when people buy the lie.

The progressives don't care about substance, only form. If the Church keeps the substance of the doctrine of marital indissolubility that's fine, as long as sheep in the pew get the idea that the "pastoral" approach allows them to make their own decisions about whether they can receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord while they continue to live in sin. Poor Jesus. So many Catholics today approach Communion unworthily and commit the grave sin of sacrilege. Many are led into this sin by false shepherds who tickle their ears. God help them on Judgment Day.

I hope you are praying the novena to Our Lady of Victory for the Synod. Today is day three. Let's ask St. Therese on her feast day to join us in praying for the family.

Who Will "Control" the Synod on the Family

I hate the title of this article by Jeff Mirus at Catholic Culture, but it's a good article.

The Ignatius Press conspiracy to control the Synod on the Family

I intend to download Edward Pentin's new book on my Kindle today and read it while I ride away to nowhere on my exercise bike.

Everything I've read about the book makes it sound like a real blockbuster. What a courageous son of the Church Edward Pentin is. Please pray for him. I'm sure the liberals  progressives will be treating him like the plague at the Synod.

By the way, are you joining the novena for the Synod? My husband and I started the prayers last night, but it's never too late to begin. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.

It's Finally Official ---

Good-bye to Cardinal Burke...hello to French Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,

Some statements from Cardinal Burke as he prepares to take up his new assignment to Malta. (Interview with Edward Pentin):

[The cardinal] said he “often heard” prelates at last month’s two-week Synod on the Family in Rome say that because the culture has changed “so radically,” the Church “cannot teach as we had in the past.” But Burke responded by saying such a view betrays a “loss of hope in Jesus Christ, Who alone is the salvation of the world.” He acknowledged that the culture is “very corrupt” but added that doesn’t mean “we go chasing after it, but rather bring to the culture that which will save it and be full of hope.”

"I've Never Known a Synod so Obviously Steered from the Top."

I'm offering my rosary today for Edward Pentin. Thank God for an honest journalist. He proves the term doesn't have to be an oxymoron.

Cardinal Kasper Caught Lying! Zenit Pulls Interview; Journalist Has Audio!

Maybe the rain will put out the flames.

Liar, liar pants on fire!

Note to Cardinal Kasper. If you're going to lie, you'd better be sure nobody taped the interview on his cell phone. (Maybe the cardinal didn't know cell phones can record.) 

Journalist Edward Pentin stands by his report and the audio tape has it all. ZENIT took it down, but everyone knows know who was telling the truth. Sadly, it wasn't the "man of God." Why does this remind me of this week's readings about, "Woe to you  pharisees?"

Well, at least Cardinal Kasper has a wide choice of confessors from which to choose. On the other hand, liberals tend to believe in the fundamental option so what's a little lie even if it damages the reputation and career of a reporter? 

Two thumbs up for Edward Pentin for exposing Cardinal Kasper for the kind of man he is -- without integrity.

More from Pat Archbold at Creative Minority Report.