Monday, October 26, 2015
An Examination of Pope Francis’s Address at the End of the Family Synod
By: Michael Lofton
Below is the Pope’s address at the end of the Synod on the Family, along with my comments in red. As a side note, this address could not have been delivered by a man who believes the Kasper Proposal to be an act of sacrilege. It is clear from this address that he intends to allow for the adulterers to receive Holy Communion in certain cases.
Anyone who still defends Pope Francis at this point aids the Pope in the sacrilege of Kasperism.
Dear Beatitudes, Eminences and Excellencies,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like first of all to thank the Lord, who has guided our synodal process in these years by his Holy Spirit,How was the Holy Spirit behind discussions promoting sodomy, sacrilege and a return to the Law of Moses over Christ? whose support is never lacking to the Church.
My heartfelt thanks go to Cardinal Lorenzo BaldisseriYou know, the guy who prevented all of the synod fathers in 2014 from receiving a book refuting the Kasper Proposal by tampering with their mail, Secretary General of the Synod, Bishop Fabio Fabene, its Under-Secretary, and, together with them, the Relator, Cardinal Peter Erdő, and the Special Secretary, Archbishop Bruno ForteThe man who inserted language into the 2014 midterm report which says that sodomites have qualities to contribute to the Church, the Delegate Presidents, the writers, consultors and translators, and all those who have worked tirelessly and with total dedication to the Church: My deepest thanks!
I likewise thank all of you, dear Synod Fathers, Fraternal Delegates, Auditors and Assessors, parish priests and families, for your active and fruitful participation. What is fruitful about the synod fathers who promoted a sin that cries out to heaven, and an abandonment of the word of Christ?
And I thank all those unnamed men and women who contributed generously to the labours of this Synod by quietly working behind the scenes.
Be assured of my prayers, that the Lord will reward all of you with his abundant gifts of grace!
As I followed the labours of the Synod, I asked myself: What will it mean for the Church to conclude this Synod devoted to the family? This was not a synod devoted to the family. It was a synod devoted to destroying the family. Those of us Catholics who have families haven’t been edified by this synod, only scandalized and betrayed.
Certainly, the Synod was not about settling all the issues having to do with the family, but rather attempting to see them in the light of the Gospel and the Church’s tradition and 2,000-year historyThe Kasper proposal is completely against the Church’s tradition and 2,000 year history and so is the promotion of sodomy, bringing the joy of hope without falling into a facile repetitionNotice the insult he levels against those who would uphold the words of Christ and the 2,000 year old tradition of the church. They are “falling into a facile repetition”. What an insult to faithful Catholics!of what is obvious or has already been said. Just because it has been said before or is “obvious” doesn’t mean it needs to be changed. For example, we would all agree that murder is wrong (I hope all in the Vatican would say this is wrong) but by repeating that this is the case in the face of those who would attempt to change this isn’t “facile repetition” but the faithful duty of everyone who isn’t deceived by Satan
Surely it was not about finding exhaustive solutions for all the difficulties and uncertaintiesRight, but it should have been about defending the words of Christ and the 2,000 year old practice of the church, which His Holiness completely failed to do.which challenge and threaten the familyLike the Kasperites that the Pope gave a voice to, or the pedophile protectors that he invited to the synod, but rather about seeing these difficulties and uncertainties in the light of the Faith, carefully studying them and confronting them fearlessly, without burying our heads in the sand. Get it? Those who would defend the words of Christ on marriage and defend the practice of the church which is based upon these words are burying their “heads in the sand”. This is a major insult to faithful Catholics and shows that his Pope is at odds with anyone who traditional practices of the church.
It was about urging everyone to appreciate the importance of the institution of the family and of marriage between a man and a womanRight, because many of the people whom Pope Francis invited to the synod didn’t have a heyday promoting sodomy, based on unity and indissolubility, and valuing it as the fundamental basis of society and human life. Does anyone recall a single moment when the value of the indissolubility of marriage between one man and one woman was expressed during this synod?
It was about listening to and making heard the voices of the families and the Church’s pastors, who came to Rome bearing on their shoulders the burdens and the hopes, the riches and the challenges of families throughout the world. And who came to Rome with the intention to destroy the church by promoting sodomy and Kasperism. It is funny how he leaves these things out.
It was about showing the vitality of the Catholic Church, which is not afraid to stir dulled consciences or to soil her hands with lively and frank discussions about the family. Is that what he thinks he is doing? I’m sorry, but scandalizing the faithful, allowing sodomites to promote evil and allowing the Kasperites to promote sacrilege is not having a discussion about the family but the destruction of the family. Only a Hegelian could praise such a process, and only one who doesn’t believe that God has already revealed His will to us on these matters would praise the same.
It was about trying to view and interpret realities, today’s realitiesAdultery is still adultery today, just as it was yesterday. Same for sodomy. This is a straw man , through God’s eyesYou know, the God who hates sodomy and says people who do such things “deserve to die” (Romans 1:32). The same God who hates divorce, hates adultery and allowed for capital punishment for adulterers in the Old Testament., so as to kindle the flame of faith and enlighten people’s hearts in times marked by discouragement, social, economic and moral crisis, and growing pessimism. Sorry, but His Holiness only contributed to the moral crisis and growing pessimism by scandalizing the faithful and contributing to the destruction of the family.
It was about bearing witness to everyone that, for the Church, the Gospel continues to be a vital source of eternal newnessA newness that completely contradicts the words of Christ, against all those who would “indoctrinate” it in dead stones to be hurled at others. What an insult to the faithful! You who would maintain the church’s practice on the Eucharist are hurling dead stones at others according to this Pope.
It was also about laying closed hearts, which bare the closed hearts which frequently hide even behind the Church’s teachings or good intentionsAgain, more insults against faithful Catholics. Faithful Catholics are merely hiding behind the teachings of Christ per Pope Francis, in order to sit in the chair of MosesNobody is sitting in the chair of Moses by affirming the indissolubility of marriage. To do so is actually opposed to Moses who allowed for divorce and remarriage.and judgeNotice the false understanding of “judge” here. Merely affirming what the church has always taught is judging for this Pope. He clearly doesn’t understand what Jesus meant when He said “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24), sometimes with superiority and superficiality, difficult cases and wounded families. Those who would defend the words of Christ aren’t merely those who sit back from a distance and hurl stones at the wounded. For example, a person I know personally was abandoned by their spouse and unless they qualify for an annulment they intend to stand by what the church teaches on whether or not they may remarry. I am sure there are many others out there like this person who are doing the same and are deeply offended by these stones hurled at us by a Pope.
It was about making clear that the Church is a Church of the poor in spirit and of sinners seeking forgiveness, not simply of the righteous and the holy, but rather of those who are righteous and holy precisely when they feel themselves poor sinners.
It was about trying to open up broader horizonsi.e. committing sacrilege and promoting sodomy, rising above conspiracy theories and blinkered viewpoints, so as to defend and spread the freedom of the children of God, and to transmit the beauty of Christian NewnessDoes anyone find anything that has come out of this synod as beautiful?, at times encrusted in a language which is archaic or simply incomprehensible. This is such a straw man. The language of the church is not “archaic” or “incomprehensible”. Everyone understands what we mean when we speak about adultery. This is simply an attempt to change the language of the church, because if you can change the language you can change the meaning.
In the course of this Synod, the different opinions which were freely expressed – and at times, unfortunately, not in entirely well-meaning ways – certainly led to a rich and lively dialoguebetween the children of God and the sons of Satan; they offered a vivid image of a Church which does not simply “rubberstamp”, but draws from the sources of her faith living waters to refresh parched hearts. Dialogue with Satan is not a sign of a lively church but of compromising shepherds.
And – apart from dogmatic questions clearly defined by the Church’s Magisterium – we have also seen that what seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered strange and almost scandalous for a bishop from another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is an evident and inviolable rule in another; what for some is freedom of conscience is for others simply confusion. What is he talking about? If we all believe the same faith, there shouldn’t be anything that would be scandalous on one continent and normal on another. This only makes sense if he agrees with allowing episcopal conferences to decide whether or not to allow sacrilege in their territories.
Cultures are in fact quite diverse, and each general principle needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied. The 1985 Synod, which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, spoke of inculturation as “the intimate transformation of authentic cultural values through their integration in Christianity, and the taking root of Christianity in the various human cultures”.
Inculturation does not weaken true values, but demonstrates their true strength and authenticity, since they adapt without changing; indeed they quietly and gradually transform the different cultures.
We have seen, also by the richness of our diversity, thatthe same challenge is ever before us: that of proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of today, and defending the family from all ideological and individualistic assaults. It is interesting that the most ideological Pope in history wants to take a shot against “ideological and individualistic assaults”.
And without ever falling into the danger of relativismReally?! or of demonising othersCan’t do that, can’t call people “children of your father the devil” (John 8:44) like Jesus did anymore, we sought to embrace, fully and courageously, the goodness and mercy of God who transcends our every human reckoning and desires only that “all be saved” (cf. 1 Tm 2:4)He desires the salvation of all, but not equally. Also, he doesn’t force that salvation upon people but requires that they consent to it with repentance and faith. In this way we wished to experience this Synod in the context of the Extraordinary Year of Mercy which the Church is called to celebrate. A year that is based upon a false understanding of mercy.
Dear Brothers,
The Synod experience also made us better realise that the true defenders of doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit;Notice what he is doing here. To uphold the words of Christ and the practice of the church for this Pope is to defend the “letter” and not the “spirit”. Clearly, he intends to allow for the Kasper Proposal, as these words would not make sense if he opposed the proposal.not ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love and forgiveness. The Holy Father doesn’t seem to realize that withholding the Eucharist from obstinate adulterers is actually an act of love.
This is in no way to detract from the importance of formulae, laws and divine commandmentsYes it is, but rather to exalt the greatness of the true God, who does not treat us according to our meritsHe also doesn’t contradict Himself,Cardinal Kasper’s theologynotwithstanding or even according to our works but solely according to the boundless generosity of his Mercy (cf. Rom 3:21-30; Ps 129; Lk 11:37-54)Yes, it is by mercy, but he still requires us to repent in order to receive that mercy.Those who continue to commit adultery are rejecting God’s grace by their actions. It does have to do with overcoming the recurring temptations of the elder brother (cf. Lk 15:25-32) and the jealous labourers (cf. Mt 20:1-16).More insults hurled at the faithful Indeed, it means upholding all the more the laws and commandments which were made for man and not vice versa (cf. Mk 2:27). Notice the Holy Father is trying to use principles from Scripture to attempt to overturn the words of Christ and the practice of the church, which is based upon those words!
In this sense, the necessary human repentance, works and efforts take on a deeper meaning, not as the price of that salvation freely won for us by Christ on the cross, but as a response to the One who loved us first and saved us at the cost of his innocent blood, while we were still sinners (cf. Rom 5:6).
The Church’s first duty is not to hand down condemnations or anathemasNow the Pope insults the entire history of the church before 1962. So, I guess all the bishops and Popes before Vatican II, who laid down condemnations and anathemas (for the sake of the salvation of souls and as an act of mercy) were not doing their duties. Could it be that this Pope is not doing his duties by not laying down condemnations or anathemas and the church before 1962 was faithful to its duties?, but to proclaim God’s mercy, to call to conversion, and to lead all men and women to salvation in the Lord (cf. Jn12:44-50).This is a false dichotomy. condemnations and anathemas are acts of mercy and are meant to call people to salvation. What would this Pope say to the Apostle Paul who said “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 5:1-5) Was Paul being unmerciful here? If one were to accept what the Pope says here, then one would have to say yes. Readherefor more refuting this false understanding of mercy.
Blessed Paul VI expressed this eloquently: “”We can imagine, then, that each of our sins, our attempts to turn our back on God, kindles in him a more intense flame of love, a desire to bring us back to himself and to his saving plan… God, in Christ, shows himself to be infinitely good… God is good. Not only in himself; God is – let us say it with tears – good for us. He loves us, he seeks us out, he thinks of us, he knows us, he touches our hearts us and he waits for us. He will be – so to say – delighted on the day when we return and say: ‘Lord, in your goodness, forgive me. Thus our repentance becomes God’s joy”.
Saint John Paul IIWho opposed the Kasper Proposal also stated that: “the Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy… and when she brings people close to the sources of the Saviour’s mercy, of which she is the trustee and dispenser”.
Benedict XVI, too, said: “Mercy is indeed the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God… May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for mankind. When the Church has to recall an unrecognised truth, or a betrayed good, she always does so impelled by merciful love, so that men may have life and have it abundantly (cf. Jn 10:10)”.
In light of all this, and thanks to this time of grace which the Church has experienced in discussing the family, we feel mutually enriched. Many of us have felt the working of the Holy Spirit who is the real protagonist and guide of the Synod. For all of us, the word “family” has a new resonance, so much so that the word itself already evokes the richness of the family’s vocation and the significance of the labours of the Synod.
In effect, for the Church to conclude the Synod means to return to our true “journeying together” in bringing to every part of the world, to every diocese, to every community and every situation, the light of the Gospel, the embrace of the Church and the support of God’s mercy!
Thank you!
(Text retrieved from theCatholic Herald)
– Michael Lofton
Published in
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