Cardinal Sarah: "Nobody Has the Right to Stop a Priest from Giving Communion or Hearing Confession"

Leader of the Vatican Congregation for Worship criticizes restrictions on Church life through excessive corona protection measures - "Nobody has the right to stop a priest from giving communion or hearing confession"

Vatican City (kath.net/KAP) Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Vatican Congregation of Worship, has criticized restrictions on Church life through excessive corona protective measures. In an interview with the Italian daily "Compass", he said on Saturday: "Nobody has the right to stop a priest from giving Communion or hearing confession." He doesn't think much of online Masses in times of crisis. This leads to a wrong direction, also the priests. "You have to look at God - not at a camera," said the cardinal.

Considerations to distribute the Hosts in the services in plastic bags for hygiene reasons were strictly rejected. "No, no, no - that's absolutely impossible. God deserves respect. You can't put him in a bag." That is "total madness". The Eucharist must be treated with dignity. "We are not in the supermarket," said Sarah, speaking of "absurd" ideas. Holy Communion was not the subject of negotiations. 

The fact that public services are currently not possible in many places should not lead to "profane" acts, said the curia cardinal. Despite all the difficulties, every believer still has the opportunity to ask a priest for communion. 

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Don Bisceliga: Class Warrior, Homosexual, Priest

Don Marco Bisceglia, the founder of the organized gay movement in Italy was a Catholic priest.

(Rome) He was a rebel, was suspended by the Church a divinis, was a supporter of the most radical enemy of the  Church, known as a homosexual and founded together with Nichi Vendola, the Communist-Green Prime Minister of Puglia from 2005 to 2015, the largest sodomy organization in Italy. When all of his ideological "friends" had left him and he was alone and gravely ill in old age, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger picked him up again. This is the in many ways tragic story of a lost priest, which is also an extraordinary story of conversion and reconciliation. It’s one of those stories that testify to God's infinite mercy, but also the horrible confusion that people and even priests can make, and the great harm they can do. The story is retold following the reconstruction of Pino Suriano.

For many who know nothing about it, it may be an absurd invention, but it is simply fact: Arcigay was founded by a priest. In fact, the most influential and numerically significant LGBT association in Italy goes back in its core to a devotee who was himself a homosexual.

It happened in Palermo in December 1980 and the then almost 60-year-old priest, who had been suspended for several years a divinis, was called Marco Bisceglia, for everyone, he was simply Don Marco. His comrades in arms and, in the following months, also a housemate, was a young conscientious objector, Nicola Vendola, called Nichi, who did his civilian service at the ARCI Social and Cultural Association, which is close to the Communist Party of Italy (KPI).

In the biography of the priest, several precipitous breaks can be seen, which are also directly related to his own lifestyle. Pino Suriano speaks of the "three lives" of Don Marco.

At the side of Communists and pro-abortion advocates

In his "first life," Don Marco Bisceglia, in the left-wing ideological current of his time, was a priest of struggle. Born in 1925 in southern Italy, Lucerne, Bisceglia, he was ordained a priest in 1963. Already during his studies, he embraced the Marxist liberation theology, especially the teachings of the unorthodox Jesuit José Maria Diez-Alegria y Gutierrez (1911-2010), who was expelled from his order. When he is entrusted with his home parish church in Lavello, Sacred Heart, he wanted to immediately go to activism. The defense of the weak is for Don Marco the actual content of evangelization. Any Catholic would immediately sign for that if it were not for a definition problem: What is meant by "weak"? Don Marco defies everything he considers unfair. His main opponent is the Catholic Church. His fight is against celibacy, real estate investments, the "rich" Church. Don Bisceglia always finds new ways to rub against the Church with his Marxist world view. He fills his church with the supporters of the Communist Party, who have so far set foot in the church of the "class enemy". In the young priest they find a political comrade. The village church as a metaphysical ally of the local party committee of the KPI.

Don Bisceglia

The comrades applaud enthusiastically whenever Don Marco publicly and vociferously emphasizes his opposition to the Church. It was not long before the differences with his bishop are getting bigger and bigger. Not only because of the politicizing ideas of the young priest, but also because of his urge for action. With the revolution of 1968, Don Bisceglia becomes the organizer and center of workers' strikes. Political forms of struggle that also bring him into conflict with the law. On September 30, 1974, after several calls and personal talks to reconsider his positions and reduce his activism, he is deposed by Bishop Giuseppe Vairo as Pastor of Lavello. The bishop had good reasons for his drastic decision. He was responsible, as the chief shepherd, to protect the herd from confusion, for among them was a wolf who drifted about in the robes of a priest.

The "revolutionary" way

Don Marco Bisceglia had become a class-warrior on the side of the Communists and on the side of the feminists as a pro-abortion advocate. He joined the Radical Party, a radical liberal anti-Catholic movement and supported its socio-political struggle for the legalization of the murder of unborn children and for the sexual revolution. He had converted his parish house in Lavello into the local seat of the referendum committees for abortion and divorce. In order to support his ideological comrades elsewhere and to be able to fight the "imperialist" and "repressive" forces such as the state and the Church, he was increasingly absent from his parish, instead of fulfilling his priestly duty there. The bishop, in his deposition decree, wrote that Don Bisceglia had taken a "revolutionary" path that led to an "open break with the bishop."

The Communist Party did not abandon its ally. It mobilized, without appearing directly itself, through its open and underground channels, the media public. Lavello was soon besieged by reporters and correspondents from Italy's most important daily and weekly newspapers, and some from further afield. In the town itself, the non-communist believers had long been marginalized in the institutional parish. The companions flocked to "their" pastor and rose against the bishop's deposition decree onto the barricades. Don Marco and his red sheep occupied the church. On the facade of the church a banner in the best communist style of militancy was installed: "The Church belongs to the people". The pastor of Lavello became an Italy-wide case. The left immediately expressed solidarity with the "people's priest" and his "people" against the bishop and the "official Church".

"First Homosexual Marriage" in the history of Italy

But that wasn’t enough. A few days before the publication of the suspension decree, Don Marco took a step that became even more of a stumbling block and would be discussed for years to come. He celebrated what was to be the "first homosexual marriage" in Italian history. One day, of course not coincidentally in Lavello, two homosexuals presented themselves and wanted to be married ecclesiastically. Don Bisceglia was immediately on hand to manipulate Catholic doctrine and ecclesiastical order and to give the two men a straightforward lie: "Your marriage is already a sacrament before God," was how the priest explained his view of things.

Don Marco Bisceglia 1981: Activist for ArciGay and other "progressive" forces

But the two men were not really a homosexual, but the two journalists Bartolomeo Baldi and Franco Iappelli of the Conservative Monday magazine Il Borghese, publish Don Bisceglia’s idiosyncratic attitude towards the Catholic doctrine in great detail. On May 9, 1975, the bishop takes further action. Don Marco is suspended a divinis, banning him from practicing his priesthood.

This is clear after a long period of confusion clarity. Above all, it leads to a clear dividing line for the Catholic faithful. For Bisceglia, of course, a decision of the Church hierarchy he opposed is not a drama, so everything goes on as before. He celebrates Mass and other liturgies, offers the sacraments and proclaims the word of God. Of course it was a brand self-made a lá Marco Bisceglia. However, the connection with the faithful becomes weaker. The Communists needed him for their fight, many believers avoided him in  the neighboring villages. Now others stayed away, more and more.

The first time after the "church occupation" the church of Lavello was full. The zeitgeist seemed to inflate the sails of the deposed pastor. It would be a short straw fire. The full church became an empty church. The contrast is documented by photos. The photo of the last Mass celebrated by Don Marco in Lavello on April 25, 1978 shows him in front of a handful of old women, surrounded by a cordon of Carabinieri and police officers. Of course Bisceglia would not be Bisceglia if he had not chosen a political act for this last act as a "pastor". April 25 is the leftists’ holiday par excellence in Italy. On this day, against the background of a transfigured-distorted view of history, the "liberation of Italy from Nazi fascism" is celebrated. It is an event successfully usurped by Red Partisans.

A priest as a candidate of the most anti-Church party

Don Marco was now alone, without work, without a recognizable future and above all with a completely broken relationship to the Catholic Church. An "unemployed" man looking for a new home. He could not make the leap over his own shadow. He continued to talk about himself. That seemsed important to him. He wanted to change the world. According to his mind. On the 3rd of June 1979 parliamentary elections took place. The killing of unborn children had just been made a law in the previous year. Just a few months before election day, Marco Pannella, the old comrade in charge of free sex and feminist emancipation, announced  his opposition to the unresolved dichotomy that has been feigned for decades at the expense of women's reconciliation. Pannella offers the clearly underemployed ex-pastor a new field of activity. Bisceglia is to run for the Radical Party. Don Marco agrees. For Pannella a euphorically celebrated triumph: a Catholic priest as a candidate on the list of the most anti-Church party. "If you want to be free, you have to be heretical. Personally, I can not help but be one of their own ", with these words Bisceglia justified his candidacy for the radicals. His name on the list provides a forum for discussion and gives the list media attention. For Don Marco, however, the preferential votes are not enough to make the leap into parliament. As before, for the Communists, Bisceglia, as a priest, was a welcome sign to the radicals for their political struggle, but nothing more than that.

In those months when the suspended priest was active for the radicals, he met in Enrico Menduni in Rome who from 1978 to 1983 was ARCI chairman, the "classic" among the left-wing cultural associations of Italy. Menduni offers Bisceglia to take care of the organizational part of the civil rights department. This can be described as the "birth" of the LGBT organization ArciGay. And the idea for the organization including "copyright" lay with Marco Bisceglia. The official foundation was not until 1985, but on the page of ArciGay one can read:

"The first group of Arci-Gay emerged on an informal basis on 9 December 1980 in Palermo due to an idea by Don Marco Bisceglia, Catholic priest of contradiction."

For years, Bisceglia had been hanging around homosexual circles. In 1982 he was written about for his homosexuality with an article in the weekly magazine Europeo, it sounded like everyone knew about it anyway. The connection between his sexual, political and anti-Catholic confusion thus became obvious to many observers.

 Living with Nichi Vendola

"There are gay priests, but only one has declared himself publicly," wrote the Europeo. And this one was Marco Bisceglia. The friendship and the cohabitation  with Nichi Vendola goes back to that time in the 80s, whom Don Marco repeatedly referred to as a "teacher". For a few months they lived in Monte Porzio Catone in Bisceglia’s home. In 2005, Vendola, a member of an old communist party, was elected head of a left-wing alliance to head Puglia.

1985: Presentation of the new homo organization ArciGay. Bisceglia (2nd from the left), Vendola (2nd from the left)

The ARCI has been experiencing difficulties for some time, and the ex-pastor and ex-priest, as he was then called, quietly separated from the left showpiece club, or the former pastor separated. It did not come to an open break. The exact reasons of distancing can not be exactly reconstructed. So while his invention ArciGay flourished, he was quiet about the idea. So quiet that the traces of Bisceglia are lost. The years when the journalists ran after him were over. Now no one was interested in what had become of him.

If you know by now, it was because Rocco Pezzano was looking for clues. In 1987, Bisceglia was already far away from ArciGay. From his letters it can be seen that he was still in Monte Porzio Catone, where he had lodged a young homosexual named Dadi, who had come from the new mass immigration to Western Europe from Algeria to Italy. Pino Suriano interprets Bisceglia's correspondence with friends as a new phase in his life. A new "liberation" that he no longer sought in struggle and in an organization, but in the interpersonal relationship and in friendships.

AIDS and a new life

In the first half of the 90s, one day the phone rang in the parish of San Cleto in Rome. At one end of the line is Father Paolo Bosetti, the pastor of the Roman suburban parish. At the other end Msgr. Luigi Di Liegro, the founder of the diocesan Caritas of Rome. The Monsignor asks the pastor to accept a priest who has the “heavy burden": AIDS. "What should we do?" Asked the pastor. "Just do him good," replied the Monsignor. That's the way it should be. Receding from his political struggles and withdrawn from his sexual antics, Don Marco had taken himself to the terminus faster than he thought. Now begins a new life for Don Bisceglia, which he leads with the priests of the Congregatio Iesu Sacerdotis, who look after this newly established parish in Rome. There were few words, a lot of free time, and no obligations in the parish.

The days pass slowly, but it is a new beginning. After decades, the day moves back in order, with Lauds, Holy Mass and fixed mealtimes. Bisceglia begins to address fundamental questions, starting with what the priesthood is and what he is. He reads for the first time the counciliar decree, Presbyterorum Ordinis. Then also Optatam Totius for priestly training. He reads daily in the Holy Scriptures. And he reads it now with different eyes. He questions himself, as a human being and as a priest. His past is known to all. He does not talk about it. Only once did he say nothing to Father Paolo, but to distance himself from his past.

Application to Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

His life at the side of other priests makes him want to celebrate the Holy Mass again. It has been 19 years since his ecclesiastical punishment and another eleven years have passed since he last unlawfully celebrated it. At some point he had stopped. The inner contradiction had become too big.

The priests advise on it. They want to rule out that it is only a momentary mood. The question is therefore deepened. The suspension a divinis is already in the way. After a long time, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome informs Ugo Poletti, who then represented Pope John Paul II as Bishop of Rome. The answer is: There must be an appropriate request. Don Marco picks up paper and pen and formulates a petition to be addressed to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. At that time, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, for many years the enemy of the paramilitary per se for the pink-deep red militant activist Bisceglia.

Finally comes the answer: The suspension a divinis is canceled. A few days later, Don Marco writes to his sister Anita:

"I am aware of my unworthiness as I sincerely and confidently hope for the forgiveness of God and his purifying and renewing action. I hope with his help to be able to make up for my mistakes and aberrations.”

He sent this letter from Loreto. Father Bosetti remembers:

"If one begins again with the celebration of the Eucharist, which is the body of Christ, one can not do so without reconciliation.”

On the day of the "first" Mass that Don Marco is allowed to celebrate again, a delegation from the priest's home diocese would arrive, led by Bishop Vincenzo Cozzi. A delegation of the local church that Don Marco rebelled against and resisted. Before Don Marco celebrated Holy Mass again, "the most beautiful day" of his life, as he would say, the bishop embraced him. It was a day that became visible proof that no past can prevail over the present, that conflicts, aberrations, and reservations are real facts, but not predominant. For where remorse and forgiveness are, there is also reconciliation.

"I was dead and raised to new life"

The last years of his earthly life were hard but intense. The life of an AIDS patient is full of challenges, numerous visits, many hospitalizations. However, Don Marco experiences this time in "inner peace", as companions of this last phase of life report. It is a calm  that will strengthen other patients. Vittorio Fratini would ask Don Marco where he takes this pleasure from. The answer would impress him deeply:

"Remember, I was dead and I came to life again".

Don Marco Bisceglia dies on 22 July 2001. It is a day that should go down in Italy's history as a "day of conflict."

The political left mobilized to protest against the G8 summit in Genoa, which degenerated into violent action by left-wing extremist groups. On this day, when his former comrades continued their struggle, Don Bisceglia, far from this struggle that was no longer his own, is reconciled to God and to the Church. He was buried in the cemetery of Lavello, in the priest's cemetary.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi

Pictures: Tempi / Wikicommons / Wikipink (Screenshots)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

No One Goes to Confession in Germany

The  "Institute for Demography, General Welfare und Family" reports on statements by the ZdK President in a Slovakian church newspaper - the reaction of the newspaper: "That sounds quite unbelievable for us in Slovakia." For Demography, General Welfare and the Family", but on the other hand...

Bonn (kath.net) "In your ZdK, you don't know if anyone who goes to confession?" asked Slovakian Catholic internet site, " Postoj" of Prof. Thomas Sternberg, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). Sternberg replied: "No, I do not know anyone." Then he explained, "It is true that the connection between the Eucharist and confession is radically broken, it practically does not exist anymore." About the middle of Feburary "Postoj" published interviews on the "Institute of Demography, General Welfare and Family" (iDAF) in a detailed summary and translation of the interview.

Sternberg's observation led the internet news service to state that of the 24 million members of the Catholic Church in Germany, only a small minority practice. Sternberg responded and explained that more than half of the Catholics were "somehow connected with the Church." Catholics, "who attended Mass every Sunday." Sternberg replied that only 10 percent of the German Catholics, who are also Catholics who profess themselves to be pious," only visit Sunday Mass once a month. Whereupon the news site asked about Confessional practices.

Because of its importance, kath.net quotes the passage on the confessional practice of the understanding of the ZdK President from the presentation of the iDAF:

Postoj: "When I spoke to German priests in the past, whowere very surprised at what it means to be a practicing Catholic in Slovakia. That it doesn't just include ryegular attendance at Mass, but also sacramental confession. They then related to me that confession has disappeared in many regions of Germany. Is that so?"

Sternberg: "Germany is really quite different. The sacrament of penance has actually disappeared. And even the most pious Germans don't confess."

Postoj: "But how can the people who are no longer confessing receive the Eucharist?"

Sternberg: "We no longer see the connection between confession and the Eucharist."

Postoj: "But this connection is very close according to the Church's teaching. The question is the ol whether the Eucharistic celebration in Germany is still valid under these conditions."

Sternberg: "The Eucharist is not based on confession, because the Eucharist is the power to forgive sins. It is true that the connection between the Eucharist and confession is radically broken, It practically does not exist anymore. "

Postoj: "In your ZdK do you not know a person who would go to confession?"

Sternberg: "No, I do not know anyone."

Postjoj: "That sounds quite unbelievable for us in Slovakia."

Sternberg: "I can understand that this is very hard to believe, but other countries have this crisis also. Te only answer is to work to improve it."

Link to the original of the interview in the Slovakian Catholic "Postoj".

Pope Francis spoke to the Bishops at the Ad Limina. Pope: Erosion of the Catholic faith in Germany. He said: "In confession there is the transformation of the individual believer and the reform of the Church. I trust that in the coming Holy Year and going forward that this so very important sacrament will be more prominent in the pastoral plans of diocese and parishes."

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Pope Francis: The Mission of the Exorcist is "Irreplaceable"

Francis: Exorcists must be chosen "very carefully and with a great deal of prudence" - 

VIDEOS: Pope directs a ceremony of repentance, he confesses himself and hears confession

Vatican City (kath.net/KAP) Pope Francis has looked with generosity from the confessional chair and has suggests an exorcist on a case-by-case basis. The Catholic penitential practice must be "a credible mirror of the mercy of God," he said on Friday to those in attendance at a course on the Vatican Court of Grace, the so-called Penitentiary. It is necessary to avoid rigor and lack of understanding. A confessor who reflects his activity in prayer knows well "that he himself is the first sinner, and the first to be forgiven."

Francis continued to admonish confessors to ask for "the gift of humility." It should be clear that forgiveness is a free gift of God. Priests played only the role of "simple but necessary administrators" according to the will of Jesus, according to the Pope. "He will certainly be pleased if we make generous use of his mercy," he added.

The use of exorcists remains indispensable even today, said the Pope. Sometimes those with "spiritual disturbances" appear at Confession. Unless, as in most cases, they have psychological causes, pastors are not "reluctant to turn to those who are entrusted with this sensitive and necessary ministry in the diocese," the exorcists, said Francis to those attending a Course on Confession this Friday in the Vatican.

The Pope stressed that priests should consult psychologists and physicians for the assessment of supposed "spiritual disorders". It is also necessary to consider the "existential, ecclesiastical, natural and supernatural circumstances." The pope did not mention concrete examples. With a view to the exorcists, Francis said they had to be chosen "very carefully and with a great deal of prudence."

The Apostolic Penitentiary is one of the three highest courts of the Catholic Church. Among other things, it is responsible for the discharge and the lifting of penalties.

Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's and then hears the confession himself Fasting 2017:

Bishop Fellay Says Talks Will Continue With Rome and Requests 50,000,000 Acts of Penance

(Zaitzkofen) The Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X confirmed last Saturday that the talks with Rome are to continue, and announced a new Rosary crusade. It should serve the spiritual preparation for the centennial commemoration of the apparitions of Fatima in 1917, which will take place in the coming year.

The Rosary Crusade was announced at the ordinations in Zaitzkofen. It will be held until August 22, 2017 from 15 August 2016th

The prayer of the Rosary should be connected to acts of penance. Bishop Fellay spoke of "50 million acts of penance". More details will soon be announced.

Zaitzkofen, in the Regensburg Diocese, is the seminary of the SSPX for the German-speaking  and adjacent areas. On July 2, Bishop Fellay ordained there three new priests.

In his homily, the Superior General confirmed that the talks between the SSPX and the Vatican will continue. Bishop Fellay explained that the salvation of souls is the ultimate goal of the Catholic Church and thus also of the Fraternity. That objective is "higher" than a canonical recognition of the Fraternity.

But nothing is more important than the Catholic faith and the unconditional acceptance of this belief for the salvation of souls. "Without [Catholic] faith no one can be saved," Bishop Fellay said, as he made serious allegations against the ecclesiastical authorities: "Since the council, the defense and the propagation of the faith became something of secondary importance."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: fsspx.de (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
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Pilgrimage Church Mentlberg: High Mass with Ashes in Traditional Mass

Pilgrimage Church Mentlberg near Innsbruck

(Innsbruck) On Sunday, February 22   High Mass will be celebrated in the traditional Roman rite with the conferring of  Ashes in the pilgrimage church Mentlberg near Innsbruck.  Mentlberg is on the heights over the Inn valley southwest of Innsbruck. The church has a miraculous image of Our Sorrowful Mother on the Gallwiese.

The statue dates from around 1500 and was originally worshiped in the church of Holzheim near  Ulm. When Protestant doctrine gained ascendancy there during the Thirty Years War, it was brought to Innsbruck in 1638.  On Mentlberg soon arose a new pilgrimage to Our Lady of Sorrows with the Saviour taken down from the cross on her lap. The magnificent baroque church was consecrated in 1770.

For several years the faithful who attend the Immemorial Roman Rite have found a home in the Diocese of Innsbruck at Mentelberg. They are supported by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.  The celebrant next Sunday will be Daniel Kaplan Kretschmar, priest of the Archdiocese of Vaduz. Kretschmar who was consecrated in 2011 by Archbishop Haas in Rome, is a trained church musician. Since then, he has been involved in the establishment of the Fraternity of St. Peter in Salzburg.

Celebrant: Kaplan Kretschmar - vocal ensemble Sonoritas sings works for two choirs

At High Mass on Sunday at the beginning of Lent, the vocal ensemble is Sonoritas for the glory of God, will sing works for two choirs: the Missa Salve by Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) and the cantata I will not leave you, for you bless me (BWV 157 ) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). The ensemble Sonoritas , is dedicated in a special way to the care of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony , and came into being parallel for the sacred liturgy in the old rite in Innsbruck.

Whoever did not have the opportunity to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday,  can catch it up on Sunday. The Sanctuary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary on Mentelberg is completely dedicated to the passion and cross of Christ.  This is concentrated in Lent on  penance in preparation for the Easter Vigil.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Wikicommons

Trans: vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Is Francis Turning Offenders into Victims and Priests Into Social Workers?

(Vatican) Does the Pope say "wounds" and mean sins? He confuses   sinners with the "wounded"? Or he says priest and confessor, however, he believes they are social workers and Caritas employees? In 6 March, Pope Francis gave a long speech to  the priests of his diocese of Rome a long speech at the beginning of Lent in the Paul VI Hall, whom he  had called together. The theme of the address was the question of how a priest had to be to be a "good shepherd". Here are some tentative considerations and more questions from a simple Catholic woman.

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The Sinner as Wounded?

Essay on an unfinished Commentary 

by Martha Weinzl

The speech was as is typical of Pope Francis, divided into three points. "In the whole Church it is the time of mercy." "What is mercy for the priest," And: "Mercy is neither arms too widely opened or  rigidity"

27 Times Mercy, Never Guilt

First, the test of an empirical text analysis. The text uses Pope Francis uses the word mercy 27 times,  twelve times the word heart, ten times the word wounds, six times the word flesh, two of five times he speaks of the sacrament of reconciliation and the confessor, three times he used the words compassion, confess, and penance, only once the words sin, sinners, reconciled and absolve. The words guilt, confession and confessional do not occur, nor salvation, savior, savior, savior, salvation, salvation or absolution.

What tells us this list? Pope Francis  was to talk about  confession and the role of the priest as confessor.  The subject for the talk, one would assume, is the  sin and the sinner who has committed the sin. We are all sinners, but we should beware of sin. The Church presents us with the precious aids available for the lifelong struggle against sin. First, the instruction that contributes significantly to the formation of conscience. Then, however, especially the sacramental means of grace, especially the Sacrament of Penance instituted by Jesus Christ. After all, it is about  eternal salvation, whether we can stand before God's justice and mercy.

Sin and sinners appear as terms in the papal address but each only appears once. Sin is indirectly mentioned in connection with criticism of lax priests who "minimize"  sin, thus  downplaying it. An important statement. 

The Sinner, to be exact, "sinners" are in only one instance mentioned, without further explanation, together with the "sick", "about which nobody cares." Sinners and the sick are referred to by the Pope in the same sentence as "excluded".  For them"Especially,"  the priest needs "tenderness".

Dimension of the Sin and the Sinner's Status Remain Unnoticed

The papal considerations can be far more reasonably followed when missing parts simply included. Nevertheless, it is remarkable how underexposed the dimension of sin and the status of the sinner remains, although they really should be the focus in the face of the subject.

The sinner becomes sick, but not in the sense of a spiritual disease. This can give rise to suspicion, the Pope coul view the priest - just to exaggerate - not as confessor, but as a nurse or Caritas staff member.

No perpetrators (sinner), only victims?

In fact, the Pope speaks not of sins and sinners, but of wounds and the sick. But wounds are not sins, but a change of perspective. The Pope says without a doubt wounded, people who are injured. Sin is a wound. The sinner is but the cause of the wound through sin and not merely the victim of a wound. That the sinner can be an injurer and the wounded a sinner, is another question, to which the Pope, however, did not respond.

Pope Francis sets the priests in the role of the minister in his speech, only to those wounded in the heart. The confessor has only to take care of the sinner. He has to condemn the sin, an issue the Pope doesn't even touch, and to move the sinner to repentance. The penitent who repents, he has - in Pope Francis is in his definition only agree - to go on his way to be reconciled as he is accompanied by God, but so that he no longer falls,this also includes the accompanying penance.  These aspects are not mentioned.

According to Pope Francis, the sinner is not the offender, but obviously a synonym for the wounded. This is in need of explanation, if not to be assumed that the understanding is turned upside down.  Offender and the victim as interchangeable sizes? The sinner is a doer, he wounded a victim. The priest who, according to Pope Francis is to take care of the wounded, so to victims, but in reality - one follows the papal versions - they are perpetrators, because why else would require a confessor.  The sinner is thus in a new dialectic from the perpetrator to the wounded victims. For victims of their own sin? For victims of evil? For victims of the devil, the eternal tempter and seducer? But that is not explained by the Pope.

Sin? "Material problems, scandals, illusions of the world"

He speaks of the Church as a "field hospital" and gives the impression as if there were in a very special way in this day and age a "need to heal the wounds, many wounds! Many wounds!" But that would mean that priests would have had to take care especially to those who have been wounded by sin.  It's just not clear from the further description, however. But why should our time need more to heal "wounds" than previous times, so that the Church is given a new role as "field hospital"?

In fact, the Pope is expected to be right. There were never as many people as today, which is why the number of sins should ipso facto be greater in number than ever before. Since the Pope does not name sin and never really speaks of sinners, his statement is vague and raises a number of questions that remain unanswered. Because the causes of the wounds that need confessors, so to sin, Pope Francis merely says: "Many people are wounded by material problems, scandals, even in the Church ... people who are wounded by the illusions of the world ..." .

You can rub your eyes in disbelief: "physical problems", "scandals", "in the Church", "illusions of the world"? What's this? Is this the dimension of sin, from which we have to guard ourselves? Wounds by social injustice?  Perhaps the Marxists might be right that the only reason offenders sit in our prisons because they are victims of structural social injustices in the end, right? Sociological and psychological considerations? This requires the confessor, confession, the sacrament of reconciliation? This is something completely different: The reinterpretation of the confessor to life consultant? To psychotherapist? To a friend? The confusion of sin with worries and problems of the people? The question would then be justified, whether other professions due to their professional training are not yet suitable to solve such problems, as the "appointed" priests. If God actually is a kind of generic guidance counselor for social work?

The priest as Caritas staff?

Can the Pope's message to the priests of his diocese, and thus to all the priests, be summarized as follows: Go out, and do not fear for you to get dirty to help the people in their lives, everyday worries and troubles. One calling among several for every Christian. Also a perfect job description for a Caritas staff. But is this a definition for the priesthood? Especially in connection with the Sacrament of Penance? Questions, questions.

Picture: Avvenire

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

Pope's General Audience: "Lack of Consciousness of Sin is Based in a Lack of Consciousness of God"

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

the new life in Christ, which we receive through the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened by the frailty of human nature, even be lost  by sin. Therefore, Christ has the Church, which continues His work of salvation, has given the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and Anointing of the Sick. In the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation we receive the forgiveness of sins. This is not the fruit of our toil, but gift of the Holy Spirit, who immerses us in  mercy and grace which flows from the open heart of the crucified and risen Christ. This takes place in the community of believers, the Church where the Holy Spirit is present. Therefore, it is not sufficient merely to ask the Lord quietly in the heart for forgiveness. It is necessary to confess one's sins to the servant of the Church. The priest represents not only God, but the community of the Church, which gives the penitent reconciliation and accompanies him on the path of conversion. Too often we forget this sacrament or push it aside - for convenience, out of shame or because of a lack of consciousness of sin, that is based in a lack of consciousness of God. We make ourselves the measure of things, close ourselves to God and to others, and our conscience ultimately dies from it. Let us use  the treasure which the Lord has entrusted to His Church in the Sacrament of Penance.

A warm welcome I say to the pilgrims from German-speaking countries. In the sacrament of penance and reconciliation we experience God's merciful love, which gives us strength for penance and new life. Let us confidently go to confession so that we may renew the divine love and reconcile  with God, with ourselves and with others. I cordially bless you all.

Link to Katholisches...

NB: this is a translation from the German, which differs significantly from the English translation at the Vatican website, which doesn't even look Catholic.

Pope Francis Critique To Priests Out of Touch With Reality: Don't Turn the Confessional Into a "Torture Chamber"

(Vatican) The times have changed. Previously, the progressives have accused the Popes of "being out of touch with reality". Pope Francis is viewed by the faithful Catholic of being out of touch with reality. How so? We continue the study of the Apostolic Letter Gospel Gaudium continued by Pope Francis. So far, this appeared Gospel Gaudium - Clear Words to Live Right (John Paul II) and Francis the Pope, who Abolishes the Papacy - The Revolution The Cardinals Wanted . [Coming up]

The word "sin" is mentioned many times. However, the context in which it is mentioned, is complex and would require a separate in-depth analysis. Thus, there are in addition to the personal sin there is  "social" sin that emerges in different places. How, then, can one  overcome sin and obtain salvation, is not mentioned. The words "repent" and "repentance" are missing completely. The word "conversion" occurs only once as a quotation from an instruction of the CDF. The word "repentance" on the other hand is repeated often. How this reversal is to be completed, however, remains open. The word "confession"  [or Penance] is not found in the papal document. Thus, the decisive act of reconciliation  with God through conversion, repentance, confession and penance remains unexpressed. It seems to play no role in the "joyful" evangelization.

But not only is there no mention of confession: The only indirect mention of  confession in Evangelii Gaudium occurs negatively in the form of criticism. The Pope mentioned  the "confessional" once in 44. In this context, he tells the priest, "that confession can not be a torture chamber." In reading this point, the only indirect mention of  confession, the question arises: "Yes, where does this pope live?" The statement is characterized by being out of touch with reality. The reality is the exact opposite, that the introduction to the catechesis in confession and instruction of the faithful for decades, hardly plays any role that the children are guided without confession to First Communion in the Western world in many places that the confessionals are torn out of many churches were that many priests do not hear confessions any  more that  "Confession and Consultation" is offered in some parishes in the "confessional" but  there is a  pastoral assistant sitting. The list about the decline of the Sacrament of Penance could be continued for long. The confession seems to fit so little into a "happy" Christianity that its last mention  must be placed under a negative sign.

The out of touch character of that statement by Pope Francis is reminiscent of yet other, equally unrealistic remarks of the Pope at  the end of September. At that time Pope Francis held as his "main concern" whether priests had already had the children of unmarried mothers baptized.

It was the same Pope, last Holy Thursday, two weeks after his election, who is said to have said in a private conversation with priests of the diocese of Rome: "I insist: Let the doors of the churches open, and people will come, and turn on the light in the confessionals, to show that you are there and you will see that a queue forms in front of it. "One of the many contradictions of this pontificate. Where the statement of Holy Thursday still does not officially occupy   part of the Magisterium, while Evangelii Gaudium does.

44. Moreover, pastors and the lay faithful who accompany their brothers and sisters in faith or on a journey of openness to God must always remember what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches quite clearly: “Imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors”.[49] Consequently, without detracting from the evangelical ideal, they need to accompany with mercy and patience the eventual stages of personal growth as these progressively occur.[50] I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. A small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties. Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above and beyond their faults and failings.

Link to Encyclical...

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Formiche
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotamail.com
Link to Katholisches...

AMGD

Bored by Synod: Cardinal Meisner Encourages Going to Confession More Often

"Since then, it hasn't been going forwards, but backwards."

Edit: in other words, it's not just going to confession, but having a good resolution to do something about your obligations and the state of your Diocese.

Nothing besides the Sacrament of Penance:  Joachim Cardinal Meisner recommends going to confession more often -- instead of solving the problems in the Church.

(Kreuz.net)  "We have sat here since the past week and have listened to the interventions from early morning until the evening -- which are very interesting."

The Neoconservative Cardinal Joachim Meisner Cologne reaffirmed this yesterday for his Old Liberal Flamer-Site 'domradio.de' [They were preaching out against the "sins" of homophobia, earlier and Cardinal Meisner hasn't done anything to correct them.]

When he was asked to explain "very interesting", he explained:  "Everyone has the opportunity, to give an intervention.  This makes the work a bit laborious.

Because: "Getting down to business" in discussion circles -- where the Germans stew in their own juices.

Bla-bla Isn't Enough

The Cardinal spoke of a "disappearing faith".

One has to ask "very seriously":  "What have we done wrong?"  -- he asked.

He described himself as a veteran of synods who has participated in ten such gatherings.

Only: "Since then, it hasn't gone forward, but backward."  -- insisted the Cardinal soberly.

Certainly he could not bear the hard reality for long, but  quickly got out of it by talking about the "Holy Ghost".

Despite which -- according to his own account -- the ten Bla-bla Synods he had gotten through, he still effused optimism:  "I am of good hope that the Snod can have a good result."

More Penance?

His website  attempted to hack back into it:  "Can you talk about what has been done wrong up until now?"

Cardinal Meisner retreated:  "I can only say what I've done wrong."

Or:  "And that's something you must also ask yourself."

Here is a solution:  "Are we going regularly to confession, that the sins of our life will be effaced and we will make room for the Holy Ghost?"

Fact: At least based on the situation of the Church in Cologne and in Germany it can be concluded that Cardinal Meisner isn't going to confession enough.

The Problem is not the World

He cited John Paul II:  "The conditions in the secular society have become significantly more difficult."

Still, the problem isn't the world, but the priests and bishops who've become more worldly -- and its vanishing faith.

Link to kreuz.net...

German Bishop Performs Penance

Like Father Z, we've been suggesting penance for the Bishops for a long time too. We just belatedly stumble across his post in another forum. Even Cardinal Meisner has been urging greater Penance on the part of priests.  Remember when the Irish Bishops were supposed to make some sort of Lenten Penance for this issue of abuse.  It would be nice to see them do penance for their other crimes, like Archbishop Diarmuid Martin showboating, making ambiguous statements about homosexuals and pretending to be a problem solver?  Anyhow, we digress, thanks to Father Z for posting this.  We might also point out that the idea of Penance is sorely lacking amongst the laity as well.  Indeed, we didn't call Penance the "Sacrament of Reconciliation" back in the day, we called it "going to penance" for which you received penances from the Priest, however small, however great.


Haven't seen the transcript, but the reporter talks about the "structural sin".  There is no such thing.  Sins are always personal in nature.  Institutions may be capable of creating Hell on earth, but they don't go to Hell, people do.  Here's Bishop Bode performing penance:



Just as a small point, the commentators of the ancient and true Douay-Rheims version of the Bible, refer to the protestant mistranslation of metanoia as "repent".  As the English Fathers point out, it's supposed to be "do penance". 

It's a clever way of making us forget that we ought to make use of the priestly office and do penance this advent for our sins for which we deserve death?

Cardinal Pell Joins the Chorus of Apologizers: Do Penance!

When saying you're sorry just isn't enough, you get the impression that there hasn't been a tangible amends or reparation. That's why for centuries, Holy Mother the Church has employed Penance. The Irish Bishops said they were going to engage in some serious penance during Lent this year. Haven't heard anything about that.

Penance should be painful, especially for Bishops who've fallen down in their responsibilities as Cardinal Pell has. Check out the scene of the King of England being whipped in public as penance for his wickedness @2:60. Bishops should consider something like this both for themselves and their subordinates, because many people simply don't believe the apologies for past Crusades and all that:

[The Syndey Morning Herald] AUSTRALIA'S leading Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, has decided to throw his weight behind the historic apology to victims of sexual abuse issued at the weekend by Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne.

In a statement yesterday Cardinal Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, said he ''wholeheartedly endorsed'' Archbishop Hart's letter of apology which went to 219 parishes in Victoria, saying the letter ''speaks for me, too''.

In the letter Archbishop Hart spoke of a ''crisis of faith'' and acknowledged that victims of clergy abuse had been betrayed, while the church had not always responded properly.

Link here...

The Crimes of Modernism Healed by Penance: The Real Import of Benedict's Letter

Christ said to the adulterous woman, "do penance and sin no more". Despite this message of redemption and the elevation of womankind which the Church has promulgated, defended and taught the world for centuries, the villainous media expects a pound of flesh from the Church, a Church which has always preached penance for sins. It remains unclear what punishments those behind the media blitzkrieg have in store for the Church, its adherants and ministers. Perhaps it will be content to preserve the deceptive mercenaries who are its own chaplains within Its bosom? But the Church is surely being persectuted elsewhere as it is from Iraq to California. Like the Bishops' Conferences throughout the world, those who hate the Church and have power, no doubt must have in the back of their collective mind some sort of legislation. At last; Herod in the West would feel bold enough to murder grown men, and not be satisfied with helpless babes as he is now.

Benedict XVI made promises to clean up the filth in the beginning of his pontificate. He's been doing that. Homosexual priests who are caught are dismissed and increasingly, Bishops and pastors hostile to Orthodoxy are being sent out to pasture, early, to be replaced by Bishops and priests who are Catholic, who don't give fawning interviews to the international press telling people how they struggle with what Rome expects of them.

The following article by Sandro Magister deals with the issue of the sexual revolution which came (like nouveau theologie) out of the post-war years with new musical styles and ways of living facilitated by personal transportation and mechanization.

Along with the plastic and radiation of the post-war years, there came cultural novelties dealing with psychology and sexuality. Like bad parents, many Bishops and priests succumbed to the spirit of the age and introduced these novelties with the conspicuous and damnable results we're experiencing today.

There are many now pointing an accusing finger at the Church for the failure of some of its ministers in sexual morality, who would not like the penitential antidote fitting for bad parents of all kinds, the kinds of penitential practices suggested by our current Pope have long been suppressed in deed if not by law in many Diocese throughout the world.

If good can come out of evil, it is that many, to include the laity, are called this year to beg God's forgiveness and make reparations for the crimes committed because we omitted to do what was demanded by justice as parents and leaders, or because we broke God's law and thought we could escape His wrath.

The Genesis of a Crime

Genesis of a Crime. The Revolution of the 1960's. The scandal of pedophilia has always been there, but it was magnified by the cultural revolution of half a century ago. Benedict XVI makes the claim in his letter to the Catholics of Ireland. Two cardinals and a sociologist comment

by Sandro Magister

ROME, March 25, 2010 – Law and grace. Where earthly justice does not reach, the hand of God can. With his letter dated March 19, Benedict XVI has given the Catholics of Ireland an order never before given by a pope of the modern era to an entire national Church.

He told them not only to bring the guilty before the canonical and civil courts, but to put themselves collectively in a state of penance and purification. And not in the privacy of their consciences, but in a public form, before the eyes of all, even of their most implacable and mocking adversaries. Fasting, prayer, reading the Bible, and works of charity on all the Fridays from now until Easter of next year. Frequent sacramental confession. Continual adoration of Jesus – " himself a victim of injustice and sin" – present in the sacred host, exposed on the altars of the churches. And for all the bishops, priests, and religious, without exception, a special period of "mission," a long and strict course of spiritual exercises for a radical review of life.

Link to Chiesa...