Historian Roberto de Mattei has been fired from his broadcast at Radio Maria for being critical of aspects of this pontificate.
This follows on the heels of Radio Maria firing two long time hosts, Mario Palmaro and Alessandro Gnocchi, for a similar infraction after a critical article at the height of the papal interview parade last fall.
So this is how it is to be now. The Pope commands us to shake up the Church. Shake it up, but don’t step out of line.
Well, actually, you can step out of line as long as you step to the left. An entire Episcopal conference can be in open rebellion and that is tolerated because they are stepping away from long held Church teaching. You can openly ridicule the head of the CDF and you will be tolerated.
If you step the other direction, you will be squashed. Just ask Mario Palmaro, Alessandro Gnocchi, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, and now Roberto de Mattei.
Welcome to the open Church where nobody judges anymore.
February 16, 2014 at 6:07 pm
No, Catholics have to live by the unchanging and unchangeable Deposit of Faith and natural law of Christ's Church in season and out. It doesn't change from Pope to Pope no matter what a Pope might seem to suggest outside of the Magisterium.
February 17, 2014 at 12:07 am
It does not matter what church or doctrine you support.
If you known abortion is wrong because of Luke 1:26-55, that it is 1st degree murder of a soul, and because God hated the children given to Baal (the SGC-1 use of this name is another topic).
If you think homosexual conduct is wrong because God hates it from Genesis right up to Rev 21, then you will end up being shunned and called a hater.
Satan has effectively infected all the churches, from the RCC to the ELCA from the top down. When God said this whole world (all nations) whores after Satan, he meant it. Religion is one horn of the four dynasties.
We can stay in the churches and try to change it from the inside, but, remember God said to come out of the churches (of deception). I do not think God meant just one denomination.
I do not known much about the RCC as far as doctrine, but, I do know a bit about the Lutheran Church (as a member) and Martin Luther would have a stroke if he were alive and saw how far it has fallen and it will only get worse.
They have taken the "grace" freely given, he espoused, and has used to to pretend God will forgive all sins just because you ask, when you knowingly do it and approve of it in others.
I tried getting the ELCA/local churches to explain how God does NOT hate homosexual conduct after reading Romans 1:26 and Jesus sure is not talking about canines when he says "dogs" will be outside of heaven in Rev 21. Jesus repeats that twice in a row chapter to chapter in Revelation. There must have been a good reason for that.
If I was a RCC member what I would watch out for is the perversion of what the church once "held" most dear, the sacrament and communion. Expect the Pope or someone else to offer it freely to the CEO of Planned Parenthood or something else wicked in that along that vein.
We already have openly PRACTISING homosexual males and females called "pastors" offering it in the ECLA, including to their "partners". No way God blesses that conduct, wine, or bread.
February 17, 2014 at 5:40 am
Why the focus on gays? What about the heterosexual co-habitation?
February 17, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Prof Mattei avers:
Catholic doctrine teaches us however, that the Pope is infallible only in determined conditions and he can make mistakes, in the sphere of ecclesiastic politics for example, in strategic choices, in pastoral action and even in ordinary magisterium. In these cases it is not a sin, but a duty of conscience for a Catholic to criticize, provided that it is done with the maximum respect and love due to the Supreme Pontiff. The saints did so, and they have to be our models.
February 17, 2014 at 6:31 pm
The good Prof seems to me to be begging the question as to whether or not he is correct re publicly criticising the Pope.
Let us read Pope Benedict XV:AD BEATISSIMI APOSTOLORUM
22. The success of every society of men, for whatever purpose it is formed, is bound up with the harmony of the members in the interests of the common cause. Hence We must devote Our earnest endeavours to appease dissension and strife, of whatever character, amongst Catholics, and to prevent new dissensions arising, so that there may be unity of ideas and of action amongst all. The enemies of God and of the Church are perfectly well aware that any internal quarrel amongst Catholics is a real victory for them. Hence it is their usual practice when they see Catholics strongly united, to endeavour by cleverly sowing the seeds of discord, to break up that union. And would that the result had not frequently justified their hopes, to the great detriment of the interests of religion! Hence, therefore, whenever legitimate authority has once given a clear command, let no one transgress that command, because it does not happen to commend itself to him; but let each one subject his own opinion to the authority of him who is his superior, and obey him as a matter of conscience. Again, let no private individual, whether in books or in the press, or in public speeches, take upon himself the position of an authoritative teacher in the Church. All know to whom the teaching authority of the Church has been given by God: he, then, possesses a perfect right to speak as he wishes and when he thinks it opportune. The duty of others is to hearken to him reverently when he speaks and to carry out what he says.
23. As regards matters in which without harm to faith or discipline-in the absence of any authoritative intervention of the Apostolic See- there is room for divergent opinions, it is clearly the right of everyone to express and defend his own opinion. But in such discussions no expressions should be used which might constitute serious breaches of charity; let each one freely defend his own opinion, but let it be done with due moderation, so that no one should consider himself entitled to affix on those who merely do not agree with his ideas the stigma of disloyalty to faith or to discipline.
24. It is, moreover, Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as "profane novelties of words," out of harmony with both truth and justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected: "This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved" (Athanas. Creed). There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim "Christian is my name and Catholic my surname," only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself.
Soi disant traditionalists are not doing themselves any favors by publicly critising the Pope.
In Genesis, the progeny of Cham were condemned because he exposed Noe's nakedness whereas Sem wwas Blessed because he cloaked Noe's nakedness.
Cui bono when a Christian Catholic uncovers his Father's (putative) nakedness rather than cloak it by casting the actions of his Father in a favorable light?
We can choose to be Cham or we can choose to be Sem. There is no Tradition of a duty to criticise a Pope. However, there is the Tradiiton of Saint John Chrysostom teaching us that silence is golden