I would’ve thought calling people names and saying they’re doing the work of the devil might be frowned on but maybe I’m behind the times.
“Pope Francis has lashed out at the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), saying: “They are the work of the devil.”
During a meeting with Jesuits in Slovakia, the Pontiff spoke of “a large Catholic television channel that has no hesitation in continually speaking ill of the Pope.” Although he did not name the network, the reference clearly was to EWTN. “I personally deserve attacks and insults because I am a sinner,” the Pontiff said; “but the Church does not deserve them.”
Pope Francis said that he had “said this to some of them”—apparently indicating that he had lodged complaints with some representatives of the American television network. His public remarks could put more pressure on EWTN, a network that has built up a large international following in part because of its willingness to tackle controversial issues.
The Pope’s question-and-answer session with Jesuits occurred on September 12, during his visit to Slovakia. A full transcript of the session was released on September 21.
During the same session, Pope Francis also expressed impatience with priests who “make nasty comments about me,” complaining that “they make judgments without entering into a real dialogue.”
Evidently linking such criticism to support for the Tridentine liturgy, the Pope went on to speak of “the decision to stop the automatism of the ancient rite.” He said that when young priests seek permission to celebrate the Latin Mass, it is “a phenomenon that indicates we are going backward.”
Earlier in the exchange, Pope Francis had spoken out against a tendency to “look back to the past: to seek security.” He said: “This is the evil of this moment—namely, to seek the path in rigidity and clericalism, which are two perversions.”
“It frightens us to accompany people with sexual diversity,” the Pope told the Jesuit group. He urged them to “go forward in pastoral experiences.”
You literally could not get any more mainstream Catholic than EWTN. To think they are on the ramparts of traditional Catholicism is just not an accurate depiction. They’re probably just referring to Raymond Arroyo who has carved out his own thing over at EWTN.
There’s no way you could look at the work of EWTN and say they are the problem in the Church. The very thought is laughable. It seems to me that the pope and The Vatican don’t want to know what the real problems are in the Church.
Rigidity? Is that a joke. A majority of Catholics don’t even believe in the Real Presence. But rigidity and traditionalism is the real problem. This is pathetic.
September 22, 2021 at 11:56 am
‘Not sure if it is correct to say, “Raymond Arroyo who has carved out his own thing over at EWTN.” Raymond IS EWTN, considering he and his World Over segment had founder Mother Angelica’s (hardly, “the devil”) personal approval and vision from EWTN’s inception and continuing till her death. As for Pope Francis and his personal opinions, to steal from a dear friend, “I know my faith!” We pray for the Church and the Pope.
September 22, 2021 at 3:19 pm
Someone must have eaten a bad Kielbasa that day.
He gets in to some moods, doesn’t he?
September 23, 2021 at 8:39 am
It needs to be acknowledged that Jorge Bergoglio is not Catholic. The corollary truth, therefore, is that he is not pope.
September 23, 2021 at 9:04 am
Boy this message from PF smacks of narcissism. If he wants to “dialogue” with priests who prefer the Tridentine Mass, he can pick up the phone or write an email. He could always choose to be the bigger person and not personally attack those attacking them, but instead prefers to imply they are “backward” “automatons.”
Also gets on my nerves that he equates dissent from his personal directives to be against the Church. It implies he subconsciously believes himself to BE the Church.
Ugh.
September 23, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Seems like Francis is out of step with Saint John Paul 2. Jesuits should never be considered as real Catholics as the are out of step with the Cathecism of the Catholic Church.
September 24, 2021 at 5:42 am
Many players are preparing enough New World Coins for the launch of New World.
https://www.iggm.com/new-world-coins
September 24, 2021 at 8:54 pm
Thankfully God is God and Francis is not!
October 1, 2021 at 10:00 am
Amen!!!
September 26, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Somebody is crankypants today. The problem is the he’s making a lot of us who are just trying to go on in our lives cranky. And he’s destructive – I’ve got a neighbor who doesn’t go to Mass because he can’t accept that this pope is infallible. I’ve explained the teaching of infallibility to him and pointed out that we’ve survived the Borgias but he’s angry. And, for that matter, so am I.
September 28, 2021 at 10:35 am
Mother Anjelica was never popular with the bishops because of her orthodoxy but she had the support of a couple of popes so they could do little to impede her programs. Things seem to have changed, for a while.
September 29, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Wow. I think part of the problem is that his Order hasn’t been recognizably Catholic for some time now. Ripping EWTN in front of that crowd is just looking for applause lines.
October 2, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Speaking of accompaniment. What about harming the consciences of little ones. Seems a very fine line between encounter and millstone. Which side d’you think it’s better to err on.