Bishop Fellay Keeps Open the Doors of Reconciliation and Restoration

Edit: the following is the interview translated at the DICI site in English from the Nouvelles de France site.  Bishop Fellay makes some salient points about the struggle for tradition and opens the doors toward reconciliation and the continued restoration of all things unto Christ.  Of course, contrary to many parties both within the official Church, Her media, and those outside of Her embrace, this reconciliation is still very much alive and developing:

Your Excellency, would you appreciate it if the last major act of Benedict XVI’s pontificate could be the reintegration of the Society of St. Pius X?

For a moment I thought that, with his resignation, Benedict XVI would perhaps make a final gesture in our favor as Pope. That being said, I have a hard time seeing how he could do so. We will probably have to wait for the next Pope. I will even go so far as to say, at the risk of surprising you, that the Church has more important problems than the Society of St. Pius X, and in a way, it is by resolving these problems that the problem of the Society will be solved.

Some say that you wish Rome to recognize that the ordinary rite is illicit; can you tell us more on this point?

We know very well that it is very difficult to ask the authorities to condemn the new mass. In reality, if what needs to be corrected were corrected, it would already be a big step.

How?

It can be done by an instruction from the Congregation for the Divine Cult and the Discipline of the Sacraments. It’s not that complicated, really. I think that important changes need to be made because of the serious and dangerous deficiencies that make this rite condemnable. The Church could very well make these important corrections without losing face or undermining her authority. But at present, I am aware of the opposition from a number of bishops to the Pope’s legitimate request that the translation in the Canon of the Mass of “pro multis” by “for all” be corrected and replaced by “for many”, since the former translation which can be found in several languages is false.

Would you like to say anything about Vatican Council II?

As far as Vatican II is concerned, just like for the Mass, we believe that it is necessary to clarify and correct a certain number of points that are either erroneous or lead to error. That being said, we do not expect Rome to condemn Vatican II any time soon. She can recall the Truth and discretely correct the errors, while preserving her authority. Nonetheless, we think that the Society contributes to the Lord’s edifice by denouncing certain disputed points.

Concretely speaking, you know that your demands will not be answered overnight.

Absolutely, but little by little they eventually will be, I think. And the time will come when the situation will become acceptable and we will be able to agree, even if that does not seem to be the case today.

You met with Benedict XVI in the first months of his pontificate; can you tell us what your impression of him was at that time?

I can say that I met with a Pope who had a sincere desire to bring about the unity of the Church, even if we were not able to agree. But I assure you that I pray for him every day.

In your opinion, what was the most important act of his pontificate?

I think that the most important act was without any doubt the publication of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum which grants to priests everywhere in the world the freedom to celebrate the traditional Mass. Might I add that he acted with courage, for there was opposition. And I think that this act will bear very positive fruits in the long run.

(Sources: Nouvelles de France – DICI#270, Feb. 15, 2013)

Cardinal [?] Joseph Ratzinger in the Cloister --- ++Gänswein Will Remain at His Side

(Vatican) Monsignor Georg Gänswein, the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI. will remain at his side after the resignation of the Pope, but retain the office of Prefect of the Pontifical Household. Thus from February 28th at 8pm  he will be on the side of the former Pope and at the same time the new Pope both. This unusual constellation was announced this morning by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.

"Don George", as the secretary of the Pope is commonly referred to since the beginning of the Pontificate, will retire, according to the head of the "Press Room” to Castel Gandolfo on the afternoon of 28 February after the resignation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Them there are also the four Memores the four women who will follow him, who led the papal household. Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger [Not sure about the title], will stay until the end of the conclave in the papal summer residence, and then return to the Mater Ecclesiae convent in the Vatican. The necessary renovations were already complete in November 2012, in place for the former Pope to occupy an apartment next to the cloister of the monastery. Gänswein will then live in the monastery with the former pope. A decision on the Vatikanist Andrea Tornielli already on 12th Reported in February.

The personal secretary of the reigning Pope was Benedict XVI. was only appointed the last 7th of December as Archbishop and Prefect of the Pontifical Household. At a time when the Pope had already decided to resign. According to L'Osservatore Romano  the intention to resign matured in Pope Benedict after the trip to Mexico and Cuba in March 2012. A decision-making process in which a nocturnal fall in the Mexican city of  Leon also may have played a role, which has been confirmed today by Father Lombardi. Gänswein received his ordination by the Pope personally during Epiphany.

The Prefect of the Papal Household has the task of organizing the public life of the Pope, especially the hearings and meetings of the Holy Father. From 1998 until the fall of 2012 Americans Archbishop James Michael Harvey has held that title. In November 2012 and since then Pope Benedict XVI.  has created him a Cardinal Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. With the appointment of Msgr Gänswein, the new prefect is the right hand of the pope resigning, which remains at his side, will continue to play a key position at the side of the new pope. A situation which seems to defy the Vatican statements that Benedict XVI. from the moment when he will be Cardinal Ratzinger, would exert no influence on the conclave and the future Pope.

Father Federico Lombardi explained that the future dual function of Curial Archbishop Gänswein alongside a foregone and a reigning pope so that the position of Prefect of the Papal Household is "No government official"  and has nothing to do with "substantive decisions". The Office had to do with the implementation of the papal audiences and meetings, not with the decision of who will be presented to the Pope and not. Therefore, there would be "no problem because of the close bond" the prefect to the predecessor of the future pope.

The Mater Ecclesiae convent of the Leonine Wall in the Vatican Gardens was founded by Pope John Paul II and in 1994 on inaugurated on the 13th anniversary of the attack against him.  It was the wish of the Pope to have a convent in the Vatican for their special Apostleship of Prayer prayig for the reigning pope and the Roman Curia. In the five-year cycle the orders and convent will change. Since 2009, a Salesian convent lives in the monastery. The sisters do needle, embroidery work for the papal household and supply these with fruits and vegetables from the monastery garden.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Vatican Insider

Link to Katholisches...

Words of Praise from Russian Orthodox Leaders for Benedict XVI

Kyrill I: In the “difficult situation”, in which western Christianity today finds itself, the Pope “courageously” defends the positions and moral values of his church.

Moscow(kath.net/KNA) The Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kyrill I, has recently found words of praise for Pope Benedict XVI.. In the “difficult situation” in which western Christianity finds itself, the Pope has defended “courageously” the positions and moral values of his church said Kyrill II according to church reports of Sunday evening during a meeting with the new Russian Ambassador to the Holy See, Alexander Awdrejew. Without these positions the Church would not be able to endure any longer and be transformed into a “mixture of various Christian organizations”.

The Patriarch stresses at the same time the stand points of the Russian Orthodox and the Catholic Church agree in the “most significant questions of the past”. Both churches should continue to work together, so that the Christian message as much in the East as also in the West will be convincingly preached. Kremlin Chief, Vladimir Putin had named the former Russian Culture Minister Awdejew as Ambassador of to the Holy See in January.

Since the election of Benedict XVI., the diplomatic and ecumenical relations between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Church have been remarkably improved. According to the political change of 1989, the Moscow Patriarchate reproached Rome for building of Catholic church structures in the states of the earlier Soviet Union, to serve to proselytize their faithful. The Patriarchate consider the Federation States as the canonical territory of Orthodoxy.

 Link to kath.net…


Also a Russian Orthodox theologian has his own words of praise for Pope Benedict:

Russian scholar praises Benedict XVI, slams John Paul II

Moscow, February 12, Interfax - Outgoing Pope Benedict XVI "has been able to strengthen the Catholic Church and improve relations with" the Russian Orthodox Church, a Russian religious scholar said.

"His decision to resign deserves respect. He has been a powerful leader, and would be able to continue his mission successfully if it weren't for his age," Roman Silantyev told Interfax-Religion.

Benedict took charge of what was "a church that had been seriously weakend by his predecessor," Silantyev said.

"John Paul II wanted to be liked by everyone, and as a result he did huge harm to the Catholics, turning millions of people away from his Church. His tenure saw mass-scale closures or conversions of Catholic Churches in Europe. Seminaries with histories spanning many centuries lost their students, and orphanages in Third World countries became the main source of new clergy," the scholar said.

During Benedict's tenure, "the useless 'thrust toward the East' [alleged proselytism by Uniates], which was taking up huge resources, has come to an end, there has been an improvement in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, which has proved to be the Vatican's main ally in asserting the Christian way of life in the European Union," Silantyev said.

Benedict "hasn't had the idee fixe of coming to Moscow because he has repeatedly met with the incumbent Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia anyway," he said.

"It appears to be most likely that an Italian cardinal will be elected to this post," Silantyev said.

Papal Electors and the “Old” Mass -- an Initial Preview on the Conclave

(Rome) During the last days of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. a glance has already been made at the possible successors of Christ’s representative on Earth, successor of the successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Peter and Bishop of Rome.  According to Church law any baptized Catholic man can be elected.  It follows from ecclesiastical praxis that the future Pope in any case is selected from the circle of the Conclave participants.  At this point a glance should be cast on each of the Cardinals, who belong to the Conclave and have already celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite or have taken part in such a celebration.  Of 117 Cardinals, who will be closed in the Sixtine Chapel, this applies to 22 Cardinals.  Almost every fifth member of the papal voters have had direct contact with the traditional form of the Roman Rite through the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.  The longest serving Cardinals among them is the Mexican, Juan Cardinal Sandoval Iniguez, emeritus Archbishop of Guadelajara.  He was already in 1994, accepted in the College of Cardinals. Among the the Cardinals declared in last two extraordinary Consistoriums of the past year there are none, who celebrate the “Old Mass” or have assisted at one.

Further Cardinals, among howm two, are considered “papabili”, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, the emeritus Archbishop of Quebec, the Primate of Canada, and since 2010 Prefect of the Bishops’ Congregation to the Roman Curia (Cardinal since 2003), and Timothy Cardinal Dolan, since 2009 Archbishop of New York and since 2010, the President of the American Bishops’ Conference (Cardinal since 2012), have enacted the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum in their own areas of jurisdiction.

The following is a list of the Papal electors who have already celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the traditional, Tridentine Rite or have assisted at such:


Albert Malcolm Kardinal Ranjith Patabendige Don, born 1947, 2005-2009 Secretary of the Kongregation for Liturgy and the Order of the Sacramento, Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal since 2010

Keith Michael Patrick Cardinal O‘Brien, born 1938, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and Primate of Scotland, Cardinal since 2003

Franc Cardinal Rodé, Lazarist, born 1934, em. Archbishop of Laibach, em. Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal since 2006

John Cardinal Tong Hon, born 1939, Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal since 2012

Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, Jahrgang 1945, em. Archbishop of Toledo und Primate of Spain, Prefect for the  Congregation for Liturgy and the Order of the Sacraments, Cardinal since 2006

Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach i, born in 1937, the Archbishop of Barcelona, ​​Cardinal since 2007

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, born in 1948, em. Archbishop of Saint Louis, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal since 2010

Francis Eugene Cardinal George, Oblate of immaculate Virgin Mary, born in 1937, Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal since 1998

William Joseph Levada, born in 1936, em. Archbishop of San Francisco, em. Prefect of the CDF, Cardinal since 2006

Sean Patrick Cardinal O'Malley, Capuchin, born in 1947, Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal since 2006

Donald William Cardinal Wuerl, born in 1940, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal since 2010

Philippe Xavier Ignace Cardinal Barbarin, born in 1950, Archbishop of Lyon and Primate of the Gauls, Cardinal since 2003

Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, born in 1944, Archbishop of Bordeaux, Cardinal since 2006

André Cardinal Armand Vingt-Trois, born in 1942, archbishop of Paris, and Primate of France, Cardinal from 2007

Ennio Cardinal Antonelli, born in 1936, em. Archbishop of Florence, em. President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal since 2003

Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco, born in 1943, Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal since 2007

Carlo Cardinal Caffarra, born in 1938, Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal since 2006

Velasio Cardinal De Paolis, was born in 1935, the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, em. Prefect for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Cardinal since 2010

Angelo Cardinal Scola, born in 1941, em. Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of Milan, Cardinal since 2003

Juan Cardinal Sandoval Iñiguez, born in 1933, em. Archbishop of Gudalajara, Cardinal since 1994

Stanislaw Cardinal Dziwisz, born in 1939, Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal since 2006

Kazimierez Cardinal Nycz, born in 1950, archbishop of Warsaw, Cardinal since 2010

Link to Katholisches...

900 Years of Chivalry

Edit: this from nobility.org on one of the most venerable charitable and military organization now in existence.

by Raymond Drake

Nine hundred years ago, on February 15, 1113, Pope Paschal II issued the bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis approving a hospitaller religious order that today is Christendom’s oldest order of chivalry: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. The Pope made the order independent from all temporal power and dependent directly on the Holy See.

Papal bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis confirming the foundation of the Knights of Malta

It all began a year or so after the 1099 conquest of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon and the First Crusade, when Blessed Gerard Tum (aka Thom, Tenque) was made provost of the Men’s Hospice in Jerusalem. Little is known of his ancestry and early years. Some say he hailed from Amalfi, Italy, while others claim him for Provence, in France. In Jerusalem, Brother Gerard recruited the Order’s first members, and later secured papal approval for it.

In 1118, Blessed Gerard was succeeded in the Order’s government by Raymond du Puy de Provence. It was under du Puy that the Order, which had been dedicated at its founding to the nursing of the sick, added its military wing to provide armed escort to pilgrims coming to and returning from the Holy Places. The ever-present Muslim menace against the Crusaders’ small kingdom in the Holy Land would turn the Order into a formidable fighting force. It was also Raymond du Puy who chose the white eight-pointed cross atop a black surcoat as the Order’s symbol.

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Roberto Mattei: It Would be Unwise to Consider This Pontificate “Concluded"

by Roberto di Mattei (February 13, 2013,www.conciliovaticanosecondo.it) On February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Holy Father Benedict XVI announced to the Consistory of Cardinals and to the whole world his decision to resign from the papacy. The announcement was greeted by the cardinals “almost in disbelief”, “with a sense of bewilderment”, “like a bolt from the blue”, according to the remarks addressed to the Pope immediately afterward by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals.

If the bewilderment of the cardinals was so great, one can imagine how intense the disorientation of the faithful is these days, especially those who have always regarded Benedict XVI as a reference point and now feel somehow “orphaned”, if not downright abandoned, in view of the serious difficulties that the Church faces at the present hour. Yet the possibility that a Pope could renounce the papal throne was not entirely unexpected. The [then] President of the German Bishops’ Conference, Karl Lehmann, and the [then] Primate of Belgium, Godfried Danneels, had put forward the idea of the “resignation” of John Paul II, when his health had deteriorated. Cardinal Ratzinger, in his 2010 book-length interview Light of the World, had told the German journalist Peter Seewald that if a pope “realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically, and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign” (p. 30). In 2010, then, fifty Spanish theologians had expressed their support for the Open Letter to the bishops of the whole world by the Swiss theologian Hans Küng with these words: We believe that the pontificate of Benedict XVI is worn out. The Pope has neither the vigor nor the intellectual acumen to respond adequately to the serious and urgent problems which the Catholic Church finds that she must face. We think therefore, with due respect for his person, that he ought to tender his resignation from his office.

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Cardinal Bertone is Camerlengo: The 117 Cardinals Who Will Elect the 266th Pope

Edit: unless something else unprecedented happens.  Cardinal Kasper will also vote. 

(Vatican) after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.  on the evening of February 28th, the next Conclave will be convened. This must be in accordance with current electoral rules must meet between the 15th and 20th day from the time at which the Holy See becomes vacant, to elect the new pontiff.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals will celebrate Holy Mass with the assembled cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica.  The Cardinal Dean since 2005, Cardinal Angelo Sodano,  is no longer eligible to vote because of his age. In 2005 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was Dean of the College of Cardinals. After Mass, the voting cardinals will make an invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Sistine Chapel, where they are sequestered until the election of the new Pope.

In the coming conclave 117 cardinals will be eligible to vote, which will be the highest-ranking official will be Tarcisio Cardinal Pietro Bertone Evasio. Since neither the Dean nor his deputy are members retired from the conclave, they will head the oldest and most senior among the elected cardinals of the conclave, which will be Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the emeritus Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops,  the eldest among the Cardinals of the conclave who is among the eldest of the member bishops of the conclave. The College of Cardinals is divided into three grades, into cardinal-bishops, cardinal-priests and cardinal-deacons.

The conclave will be between the 15th and 20th Begin March. According to Article 33 of the Apostolic Constitution  Universi Domici Gregis of Pope John Paul II in 1996 it allows the German Cardinal Walter Kasper, the oldest of the electors to still participate in the conclave. According to the original rules of order by Pope Paul VI., only those cardinals are eligible to vote who have  not completed their 80th year at the beginning of the conclave. Cardinal Kasper is 80 on 5 March.

From the German-speaking countries, there are seven Cardinals attending the conclave, Cardinal Kasper (President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), Cardinal Meisner (archbishop of Cologne), Cardinal Lehmann (Bishop of Mainz), Cardinal Schönborn (Archbishop of Vienna ), Cardinal Koch (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), Cardinal Marx (Archbishop of Munich-Freising), Woelki Cardinal (Archbishop of Berlin).

67 of the 116 voting cardinals were elevated by Pope Benedict XVI. to the rank of Cardinal. 24 of them in 2012 alone, with two extraordinary consistories.

Camerlengo : Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone, S.D.B., age : 78.

Cardinal Proto-Deacon: Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran, age: 69.9

The Other Participants of the Conclave:

Giovanni Battista Re, Kardinal-Bischof von Sabina-Poggio Mirteto, age: 79.1

Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone, S.D.B., Cardinal Bishop of Frascati, age: 78.3

Antonios Naguib, emeritierter Patriarch von Alexandria (Copt), Egypt, age: 78.0

Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M., Patriarch von Antioch (Maroniten), Lebanon, age: 73.1

Godfried Danneels, emeritus Archbishop of Mechelen-Brüssel, Belgien, Alter: 79.8

Joachim Meisner, Erzbischof Cologne, Deutschland, age: 79.2

Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez, Archbishop  of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, age: 76.4

Roger Michael Mahony, emeritus  Archbishop of Los Angeles, California, USA, age: 77.1

Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of San Cristobal de la Havana, Cuba, age: 76.4

Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, S.J.,  emeritus Archbishop of Jakarta, Indonesia, age: 78.2

Jean-Claude Turcotte, emeritus Archbishop of Montréal, Québec, Canada, age: 76.7

Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajewo), Bosnia and Herzegovina, age: 67.5

Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, age : 80.0

Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, Spain, age: 76.6

Dionigi Tettamanzi, emeritus Archbishop of Milan, Italy, age: 79.0

Polycarp Pengo, Erzbischof  of Dar-es-Salaam, Tansania, age: 68.6

Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, age: 68.2

Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of  México, State, age: 70.8

Francis Eugene George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, USA, age: 76.2

Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, age: 73.4

Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, Italy, age: 69.8

Walter Kasper, emeritus President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, age: 80.0

Ivan Dias, emeritierter Präfekt der Kongregation für die Evangelisierung der Völker, age: 76.9

Geraldo Majella Agnelo, emeritus Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, age: 79.4

Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Archbishop of Vilnius, Litauen, age: 76.1

Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, emeritus Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, age: 79.5

Julio Terrazas Sandoval, C.SS.R., Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, age: 77.0

Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M., Archbishop of Durban, Südafrika, age: 72.0

Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, age: 70.2

Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne,  Archbishop of Lima, Peru, age: 69.2

Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., emeritus Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy, age: 78.6

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentinien, age: 76.2

José da Cruz Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, age: 77.1

Severino Poletto, emeritierter Archbishop of  Turin, Italy, Alter: 80.0

Karl Lehmann, Bishop von Mainz, Deutschland, age: 76.8

Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, Italien, age: 71.4

Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, emeritierter Erzbischof von Lagos, Nigeria, Alter: 76.8

Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartum, Sudan, age: 72.1

Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M., emeritus Archbishop of Sevilla, Spain, age: 78.6

Justin Francis Rigali, emeritus Archbishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, age: 77.9

Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Schottland, age: 75.0

Ennio Antonelli, emeritus President for the Council on the Family, age: 76.3

Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Council for Peace and Justice, age: 64.4

Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Erzbischof von Ranchi, Indien, Alter: 73.4

George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australien, age: 71.8

Josip Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb, Kroatien, age: 64.0

Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Mân, Archbishop of Thành-Phô Hô Chí Minh, Vietnam, Alter: 79.0

Philippe Xavier Ignace Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, Frankreich, age: 62.4

Péter Erdõ,  Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Ungarn, age: 60.7

Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Prefect of the Bishop’s Congregation, age: 68.8

Agostino Vallini, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, Italy, age: 72.9

Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, age: 70.6

Jean-Pierre Bernard Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeaux, Frankreich,age: 68.5

Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Congregation of Liturgy and the Order of the Sacraments, age: 67.4

Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.,  Archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, age: 68.7

Stanisław Dziwisz, Erzbischof von Krakau, Polen, Alter: 73.9

Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, Italien, age: 74.8

Seán Baptist Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, Irland, age: 73.6

Lluís Martínez Sistach, Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, age: 75.9

André Armand Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, France, age: 70.4

Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop Genua, Italy, age: 70.2

Théodore-Adrien Sarr, Archbishop of Dakar, Senegal, age: 76.3

Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, India, age: 68.2

José Francisco Robles Ortega, Archibshop of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexiko, age: 64.0

Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Texas, USA, age: 63.8

Odilo Pedro Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo, Brazil, age: 63.5

John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenia, Alter: 69.2

Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, Emeritus Archbishop of Quito, Ecuador, age: 79.2

Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, age: 73.4

Paolo Romeo, Archbishop of Palermo, Italien, age: 75.1

Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of  Washington, District of Columbia, USA, Alter: 72.3

Raymundo Damasceno Assis, Archbishop of Aparecida, Brazil, age: 76.1

Kazimierz Nycz, Archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, age: 63.1

Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, Erzbischof von Colombo, Sri Lanka, age: 65.3

Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich und Freising, Deutschland, age: 59.5

George Alencherry, Grand Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly (Syro-Malabar), India, age: 67.9

Thomas Christopher Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, age: 66.2

Dominik Jaroslav Duka, O.P.,  Archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic, age: 69.9

Willem Jacobus Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht, Holland, age: 59.7

Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence, Italy, age: 66.1

Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York, USA, age: 63.1

Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Berlin, Deutschland, age: 56.6

John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong, China, age: 73.6

Baselios Cleemis (Isaac) Thottunkal, Grand Archbishop von Trivandrum (Syro-Malankar), India, age: 53.8

John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, age: 69.1

Rubén Salazar Gómez, Archbishop of Bogotá, Colombia, age: 70.5

Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, age: 55.7

Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran, President of the Council for Interreligious Dialog, age: 69.9

Attilio Nicora, President Emeritus for the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, age: 76.0

William Joseph Levada, emeritus Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith, Alter: 76.8

Franc Rodé, C.M., emeritus Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, age: 78.5

Leonardo Sandri,Prefect for the Congregation of Oriental Churches, age: 69.3

Giovanni Lajolo, emeritus Prefect for the Governorate of the Holy See, age: 78.2

Paul Josef Cordes, emeritus President of the Papal Council  “Cor Unum”, Alter: 78.5

Angelo Comastri, President for St. Peter’s Chapel , Alter: 69.5

Stanisław Ryłko, President of the Pontifical Council for Laity, age: 67.7

Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., emeritus Archivist for the Secret Pontifical Archive, age: 79.5

Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect for the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, age: 74.8

Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council of "Cor Unum”,  age: 67.8

Francesco Monterisi, emeritus Archpriest of the Pontifical  Basilica San Paolo fuori le mura, Rom, age: 78.8

Raymond Leo Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, age: 64.7

Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Evangelization of Peoples, age: 63.0

Paolo Sardi, emeritus Vice Chamberlain, age: 78.5

Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, age: 68.5

Velasio De Paolis, C.S., president emeritus of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, age: 77.5

Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Papal Cultural Council, Alter: 70.4

Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Alter: 66.9

Manuel Monteiro de Castro,  Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Cardinal-Deacon of San Domenico di Guzman, age: 75.0

Santos Abril y Castelló, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rom, age: 77.5

Antonio Maria Vegliò, President of the Papal Council for the Homeless , age: 75.1

Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of Vatican City, Alter: 70.5

Francesco Coccopalmerio, President for the Papal Council of Legal Texts, age: 75.0

João Bráz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, Alter: 65.9

Edwin Frederick O’Brien, Grand Master of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalemm, Alter: 73.9

Domenico Calcagno, Präsident der Güterverwaltung des Apostolischen Stuhls, Alter: 70.1

Giuseppe Versaldi, Präfekt For the Household of the Holy See, age: 69.6

James Michael Harvey, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul by the Walls, Rom, age: 63.4

Text: Giuseppe Nardi, Zusammengestellt nach Catholic Hierarchy

Bild: Vatican Insider

Also, tears filled the eyes of many Cardinals, including Cardinal Bertone today, as the Holy Father said his last public Mass, according to Rome Reports.

The Holy Father Abdicates His Office Amid Tremendous Pressures and Threats to His Life

Edit: last year on February 10th, the Telegraph reported a prediction that Pope Benedict would be assassinated in the following year at some point. It is in the back ground of such a threat that the present resignation seems to play itself out, and indeed there was at least one attempted attack against the Holy Father's person in Lebanon last year. At present, there are discussings about a theological and geopolitical struggle going on not only related to positions of power, but the Vatican Bank and the old P-2 conspiracy related to the CIA.

Of course, there is the assertion that the paper tiger of the sex-abuse crisis and an underground sexual cabal and Satanists, according to Father Amorth, and a Polish Priest researcher on deviant personalities, Father Oko,  who says that the Holy Father is "waging a tireless war against evil".

The Setting

An urgent message was handed to the Holy Father from the Archbishop of Palermo Paolo Cardinal Romeo, whose indiscrete comments during a trip to China were passed on to Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos of Colombia.

Fuel to the fire has been added by additional speculation from a German Journalist at Compact that there the Holy Father was indeed being threatened implicating the Central Intelligence Agency.

It was last year during the Pope's visit that he was threatened in Lebanon by an attempted terror attack thwarted by Anti-Terrorist Units and what seems to be a tip off from Hezbollah.

The German COMPACT magazine reports extensively about the murderous threat against the Holy Father

The completely surprising resignation of Pope Benedict is an unparalleled proceeding. In the history of Christendom there has only been one similar case in the last 2,000 years. In the back ground there is an internal power struggle in the Vatican, which is not only theological, but of a geopolitical nature: Ratzinger fought against CIA-insiders with concealed accounts in the Vatican bank, which had whacked his predecessor. COMPACT reports in an interview.

Jurgen Elsasser, born 1957, worked through the 90s primarily for the left media like Junge Welt, Konkret, Freitag, Neues Deutschland. Since there the climate of opinion became increasingly more restrictive, he went on his own way. Today he is the Chief Editor of COMPACT magazine.

The following in German, for now:

Christopher Ferrara: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Christopher A Ferrara POSTED: 2/11/13 REMNANT COLUMNIST, New Jersey ______________________

(www.RemnantNewspaper.com) It has been my great privilege to write for this venerable journal regarding some of the most important events in recent Church history, including the election of Pope Benedict XVI, which Michael Matt and I were fortunate enough to witness in Rome itself beneath the very balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica. But how does one gather his wits on such short notice to offer a useful assessment of an event as epochal as the abdication of a Roman Pontiff, and in particular this Pontiff, whose dramatic gestures have favorably altered the landscape of our devastated ecclesial commonwealth in ways we could only hope for during the long and increasingly ruinous pontificate of John Paul “the Great.”

Two questions immediately present themselves: Can a Pope resign, that is, abdicate, and why did Pope Benedict do so? The first is easily answered, at least technically. As the Catholic Encyclopedia observes: “Like every other ecclesiastical dignity, the papal throne may also be resigned.” Indeed, “[t]he reasons which make it lawful for a bishop to abdicate his see, such as the necessity or utility of his particular church, or the salvation of his own soul, apply in a stronger manner to the one who governs the universal church.” And while there is no higher earthly authority to which a Pope can tender his resignation, “he himself by the papal power can dissolve the spiritual marriage between himself and the Roman Church.” We can dispense by anticipation with any contrary canonical arguments we can expect hear from the amateur canonists of the Internet. None other than Pope Boniface VIII, that great exemplar of the papal supremacy, decreed the inherent capacity of a Pope to resign his own office, which decree is codified in the Corpus Juris Canonici (Cap. Quoniam I, de renun., in 6).

So, technically and logically at least a Pope has the capacity to renounce his own office as Vicar of Christ. And the abdication of a Pope, while exceedingly rare, is not unprecedented. There are several examples, including the well-known abdication of Pope Celestine V in 1294. One case is particularly striking: Pope Benedict IX (1033-44), who “had long caused scandal to the Church by his disorderly life, freely renounced the pontificate and took the habit of a monk,” to be succeeded by Clement II. (Benedict IX attempted to reclaim the papal throne after Clement’s death, but evidently failed in the endeavor).

Link to Remnant...

John Paul II's Secretary: "One does not climb down from the cross."

Warsaw (kath.net/ CBA) Warsaw (kath.net / CBA) Provocative statement: The Krakow Cardinal and long-time secretary of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), Stanislaw Dziwisz, has caused concern in Poland with a remark on the Pope's resignation. Blessed John Paul II, had fulfilled the papacy, despite serious illness, until his death and said, "one does not climb down from the cross." Polish media reports on Monday quoted Dziwisz. On this question, the Wojtyla-Pope had also consulted with the then Joseph Ratzinger, the Prefect of the Curia. Despite his "great surprise" over the resignation of Benedict XVI., he understands, however, this decision to resign for age and health reasons, says Dziwisz.

In a written statement the Krakow Cardinal, said Benedict XVI. has led the Church "with great caution and wisdom." He was very grateful for Benedict XVI's "extraordinary benevolence towards the Polish people" and the beatification of John Paul II in May 2011.

The Warsaw Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz spoke of a "great loss" for the Church. Benedict XVI. had "excellently fulfilled both spiritually and intellectually guided the Church" in his duties as pope, said Nycz. The announcement of the resignation was for him personally a "great surprise," the Cardinal said. He accepted, however, that Benedict XVI. must have important reasons for such "unprecedented decision".

The President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Jozef Michalik, recalled that Benedict XVI. during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square again preached to the Polish pilgrims in their language. "Poland was in his heart." The bishops prayed that the Pope resignation would be accepted in an "atmosphere of faith."

Link kath.net...

Munich Canonist: Pope May Retract His Resignation

Edit:  the following statement was made at the end of his Lectio Divina lecture where he made some extemporaneous comments, taken from the Italian commentator, Sandro Magister:

"Naturally, there is a false optimism and a false pessimism. A false pessimism that says: the time of Christianity is finished. No: it is beginning again! The false optimism was that after the Council, when the convents were closing, the seminaries were closing, and they were saying: but it's nothing, everything's fine . . . No! Everything is not fine. There are also grave, dangerous downfalls, and we must recognize with healthy realism that this is not all right, it is not all right when wrongful things are done. But also to be sure, at the same time, that if here and there the Church is dying because of the sins of men, because of their unbelief, at the same time it is being born anew. The future really does belong to God: this is the great certainty of our life, the great, true optimism that we know. The Church is the tree of God that lives forever and bears within itself eternity and the true inheritance: eternal life.” 

Stephan Haering:  it is canonically speaking the Pope would have time yet till the 28th of February to retract his resignation.

Munich (kath.net/KNA)  Pope Benedict XVI. will, according to the opinion of the Canon Lawyer Stephan Haering would hold the status of a Bishop Emeritus.  Officially there is no clear ruling for a Pope emeritus, said Haering on Monday to Munich's Church Radio.  Canoically speaking the Pope would still however have until the 28th of February to withdraw his resignation.  Haering expects that Benedict XVI. will withdraw from public.

In relation to the coming Conclave the Professor from Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich in doesn't not venture any speculation on the Pope's decision over the next two weeks.  "I don't think he will name any more Cardinals, but he will probably undertake the usual functions of the Papal office."

Link to kath.net...

Fool's Mass in Rottenburg Will Take Place Again

He'd already announced a year in advance in the Schwäbischen Zeitung: He will repeat the Carnival-falderal in the church of Ochsenhausen.

Dekan Schänzle is quoted: "A Fool's Mass will take place on 2013 in Fansets-Hochburg Ochsenhausen against. This will draw people who don't usually go to Church." (S.Z. 1.6.2012) It is well known that Holy Mass was mixed up with Carnival celebration from the film: The Fool's Mass of Ochsenhausen.

Very many pius.info readers have in the meantime have, thanks to the call for the bringing notice to this Liturgical abuse, weighed down the Ordinary of Rottenburg.

Actually, they received a standardized answer from the Liturgical Delegate, who despite seeing the Fasching marchers, costume communion and joke sermon, intervened here:

Dear Miss  XXXX:   

You have addressed our Diocese by using a form letter, which is placed on the home page of the Society of St. Pius X, and lodged a complain referring to Canon 1476 against Dean Schanzle.

A critical examination of the video, which has been offered on the site of the Society, that in the approximately five minute long selection, no violations were identified, which are covered in 172 and 173 of the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum.

Because there were no violations involving the named relevant paragraphs, there is no "possibility of an offense or an abuse against the Most Holy Eucharist", so that there won't be an inquiry introduced in the sense of Nr. 178 of the cited instruction.

In this connection I would like, however, in connection with your consideration, to defend the dignity of the Eucharistic celebration, to address this, that it is hardly consistent with the dignity of the Eucharistic celebration, to manipulate this, in order to gather to gather incriminating evidence in an amateur video recording against a priest.

With Warm Regards,
Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Kreidler
Episcopal Vicar for Liturgy

The almost unimaginable statement: "Because there were no violations involving named paragraphs".

Here is the summary of what was to be seen in the short video:

The pastor entered with the Carnival horn music in the church, accompanied by the costumed ministers, he used the old fashioned ambo for a "sermon" in the style of a "fool's speech" to which he let the Radetzkymarsch play (citation: "Normal den Radeztkymarsch!"), then he threw roses to the crowd and at the end of his speech.  The ambo and the altar were adorned with carnival-like crooked picture frames, complete with the theme the "Mass": 'falls out of the frame'.  Costumed children with fool's caps walk directly to the altar in the sanctuary, while the pastor is dressed in a fool's cap.  Dean Schanzle tells amusing jokes from the altar, at which the gathered community laughed loudly, apposite that an old hymn was distorted:  "A house full of glory, that runs riot today,  really it's rumored otherwise that's a fool's house".  Then came the shameful "Costume Communion".  At the end the entire community linked arms in the church to a local Fasching hit "Ohu".



To all of this, Auxiliary Bishop Kreidler said "no relevant abuses could be affirmed"?

Pius.info asks Auxiliary Bishop Kreidler then the following open question:

Have you, Excellency, actually read the texts of Vatican II in their entirety?  Is the instruction for the Liturgy today perhaps not valid any longer?  There it reads word for word:


3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority. (Decree on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium 22:3)

Why is it that the Diocese of Rottenburg does not follow the prescriptions of the Second Vatican Council?

It appears that it will really only be possible to address complaints to Rome: on the formula for complaints. In English.

Society of St. Pius X on the Resignation of Pope Benedict

[SSPX USA] The Society of St. Pius X has learned of the sudden announcement about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, which will be effective on the evening of February 28, 2013.

Despite the doctrinal differences that were still evident on the occasion of the theological talks held between 2009 and 2011, the Society of St. Pius X does not forget that the Holy Father had the courage to recall the fact that the Traditional Mass had never been abrogated, and to do away with the canonical sanctions that had been imposed on its bishops following their consecration in 1988. It is not unaware of the opposition that these decisions have stirred up, obliging the pope to justify himself to the bishops of the whole world.

The Society expresses its gratitude to him for the strength and the constancy that he has shown toward it in such difficult circumstances, and assures him of its prayers for the time that he wishes to devote from now on to recollection.

Following its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X reaffirms its attachment to eternal Rome, Mother and Instructress [Mater et Magistra] of Truth, and to the See of Peter. It reiterates its desire to make its contribution, according to its abilities, to resolving the grave crisis that is shaking the Church. It prays that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the cardinals of the next conclave may elect the pope who, according to the will of God, will work for the restoration of all things in Christ (Eph 1:10).

Menzingen, February 11, 2013,
on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Link ...

Voris on Pope Benedict's Resignation

Edit: Pope Benedict was shocked that so many of his Bishops were resisting his will when it came to the Mass, and reforms in the Liturgy.  He asked when he was elected:

"Pray for me that I may not flee for fear of the wolves."

It surely is a mark of humility.

For the Record: Pope Benedict XVI is First Pope to Resign Since Gregory XII

Penance: From the Paris Psalter

Edit: there will be a Conclave in March.  Interesting that Cardinal Muller, now the Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith, won't have a vote in the next Conclave.

Considering that the Holy Father is taking his singular and shocking step by announcing his resignation just before Lent and on the same day he's announced the Canonization of the Martyrs of Otranto, this resignation really has really been conceived to induce penance and deep meditation.

Here's a statement from the Holy Father:

Dear Brothers,  

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is. Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer. 

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Video to the Martyrs of Otranto, whose Canonization was announced today by the Holy Father:



Other Popes who've resigned...

Cleveland..St. Malacy.

Conclave in March...

Cardinal Keith O'Brien shocked by the news...

Resigning for health reasons...

Remnant frets about wolves, and mentions Vatileaks, but suggests end run by Pope Benedict....

Edit cont:  This puts Benedict in a position to influence the choice of a successor, while he works behind the scenes to effect his policies.  Whether this is true remains to be seen.

Many of this Pope's initiatives, like Reform of the Reform when some high-profile resignations and the reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, took a serious hit after Vatileaks as well.  This may be an effort to sidestep the issues raised by that, or it may indeed be a final nail in the coffin of those initiatives.

Hopefully, it will be remember that it is God who is in charge of His Church as he continues to chose men who serve Him as shepherds of His flock on earth.

Also, as Scott Hahn pointed out this morning, and we noted long ago.  This Pope has a devotion to St. Pope Celestine V.

Expect the next Pope to be Conservative.

Holy Mass Against the Building of Israeli Wall Around Bethlehem -- Next Week Israeli Court Decides

(Bethlehem)  On February 8th Abuna Mario Carnioli, Catholic priest of Beit Jala in the valley of Cremisan near Bethlehem will celebrate Holy Mass in the olive grove, "to cry out to heaven", as Fides reports, "that the time is, to let this land return to righteousness, because justice will bring security and peace",  says Abuna Mario in his appeal.  The valley lays near Beit Jala west of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Since October 2011, the priest has prayed and celebrated Holy Mass and the Stations of the Cross as well as the Rosary in the olive grove of Tales.  Today the Mass intention is special.  In the coming weeks the Court of Appeals of Tel Aviv will decide over the recourse, which the owners of the property of Tales have brought against the Israeli wall construction.  An appeal was also made by the Salesians, who have had a cloister in Tall since 1885.  In addition to an expanding wine growing business, the cloister has, above all, a home for orphans and children from needy families and several schools, among them a vocational school teaching many different jobs and not least, a theological seminary with students from the whole world.  Since 1996 it hasn't just accepted Christians, but children and students of all religions.  With the start of the second Intifada and the Israeli sealing of the occupied areas almost all of the projects of the Salesians were choked off.  Since Israel has pursued the wall, Bethlehem has been completely threatened with being shut off completely from the outside world.

"Unite yourselves in prayer, so that the Lord will enlighten the Israeli judges", wrote Fr. Carnioli in his appeal. For the priest can only imagine that  "a sick mind have developed this wall of shame of the division," because "it does not bring security, but only robs our families, the country and stifles our community whose lives are made impossible." The wall also destroys "one of the most scenic areas of the Holy Land," said Mario Abuna. Because of the Israeli construction of the wall more than 50 Christian families living in the valley have to be expropriated. The Salesian monastery of Cremisan has given these families a secure existence for more than 125 years, with its vineyards and olive trees. "Now they risk losing everything," said the priest.

Link to katholisches....

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Kloster Cremisan

German Catholic Communications Professor Fired for Statements About Marriage

Hateful Statements Against Committed Catholics Have Consequences

Edit: the following story appeared in several Catholic media outlets recently about University lecturer and Catholic journalist Martin Lohmann who was recently dismissed from a lecturing position because he does not agree with aberrosexuality.

Cologne (kathnews/CF) The famous Catholic publicist and earlier TV moderator Martin Lohmann is the President of the National Association for Defense of Life (BVL) and speaker of the AEK (Network of Engaged Catholics in the CDU).  Officially he is active as the Chief Director of the Catholic private broadcaster K-TV.  For years Lohmann has promoted convincingly and unshakably  the value of marriage, the  protection of the family and the right of all people to life, especially unborn children.  This clear position has led to intolerant antagonisms and media attacks against this imperturbable Catholic. The "Cologne Express" identified him recently as the lecturer of the Munich based, private "Macromedia Hochschuler fuer Medien und Kommunikation" (MHMK) [Macromedia University for Media and Communication].   Hereupon, the speaker of the University made the following statement on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, which stated that Lohmann's criticism of the right of adoption for homosexuals in December of the previous year had caused intolerant consequences:

"Martin Lohmann is no longer a lecturer  in Macromedia University for Media and Communication in Cologne.  After his statements on "Hart aber Fair" in a broadcast of 12/3/2012, the academic directors of Media Management have decided to no longer retain him as an instructor. The University represents in its fundamental values, a human ideal, in which various sexual orientations are respected.  They reject every form of discrimination.  Herr Lohmann's position as an honorary advisor of the University will be evaluated at present."  Lohmann pled in this talk show -- together with Christian journalist and housewife Birgit Kelle -- for the value of marriage between a man and a woman;  both critics of the Zeitgeist defended the classical family as well as the Christian foundations of the ideal.  Actually, what was earlier self-evident,  turns today increasintly into a gauntlet against public opinion -- with draconian consequences, as the most recent exclusionary action against Lohmann documents.

"Funny enough" MHMK wrote the following in their homepage their own side:  "The MHMK is the University, which reflects media wise today's and yesterday's society."  -- Oho,  that can  make "tomorrow" more pleasant, considering how bleak things stand for the freedom of expression for conservatives.

So much for the much-praised "freedom" in our media Republic - specifically media dictatorship Germany. Mention would certainly add that even the left-leaning "Kölner Express", a proven opponent  of Lohmann concedes in its current summation: "The students regularly carry out reviews of the 55-year-old according to the University  have not yet been ​​a negative." But on professional performance on skill and reputation among students are not factors, it is apparently more important to be "politically correct",  the opinion compatible with the zeitgeist, which may not in any way be "made sickly" by Christian principles.

Link to kathnews...

Foto: Martin Lohmann – Foto: HL – LohmannMedia

Syria: Islamic Rebels Plant Bomb in Church

Rampaging and plundering of the main church of the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ayn

Damaskus (kath.net/KAP)  The Syrian-Orthodox Archbishop Matta Roham has complained again of the dramatic situation in the Hassake-Djazira region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Bishop has reported to the relief organization CSI-Österreich that there are almost no Christians living any longer in the midst of the border city of Ras al-Ayn. Islamic rebels have wanted to drive them off, along with their priests. The last eye witnesses report a plundered and desolate church.

Is was there that a 75 year old Christian found a hidden bomb in the main church, which was later disarmed by Christian-friendly Kurds. Archbishop Matta Roham: "The rebels wanted to blow the church in the air along with the rectory as well as the Christian school." Since then the rebels have desolated the city and posted death threats on the street walls against Christians everywhere. The messages are clear. "These Islamic groups want to drive Christians from Ras forever," says the Archbishop.

A ray of light is, says Matta Roham, the Kurds, who want to live in peace with native Christians and are themselves in solidarity: "The Church is holy. Rebels get out" is an written in the inner walls of the damaged churches in their language, reported the Archbishop.

Ras al-Ayn located in northeastern Syria on the Turkish border. It has around 24,000 inhabitants, the off - composed Syriacs (Syrians and Assyrians), Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Turks and Chechens - now sold.

Father Luc of Brothers of St. John: Reproach Doesn't Correspond to Reality

Edit: I'm guessing we're still not any closer to knowing why these steps were taken.

The crisis of the Sisters of St. John -- The Prior of Marchegg takes issue with kath.net's statement and makes some reproaches against the sisters.

Vienna (kath.net)  The kath.net-exclusive article about the tragic developments with the Sisters of St. John has led to some reactions.  Father Luc, the Prior of the Johannine Brothers, would like a word, as he has written some reproaches of the sisters, which would refute statements  mentioned in the article.  Fr. Luc clearly states that he calls upon the same founder, Fr. Marie-Dominque Philippe OP.   Not withstanding the two branches work as two "autonomous congregations with their own superiors, their own constitutions and statutes."  The brothers then also don't want to reveal the internal difficulties of the sisters.  The Prior explains to kath.net that the Cloister of the Sisters in Marchegg, Austria, is empty at present.  "We take care of it it however and use it in any case as a prayer and guest place, in the expectation that our sisters will return."

As to the reproach the sisters make that the General Prior of the Brothers want to have the highest authority over all three branches of the Johannine family, Fr. Luc imparted clarifying to kath.net:  "Each of the three congregations in the family of St. John, that means the brothers, the contemplative sisters and also the apostolic sisters, have their  own leadership structure.  Our founder desired this from the beginning. Some years before a "council of the Johannine family" was founded with the three general priors ("Conseil de Famille"),  in order to strengthen cooperation between the three congregations.  It was never the case of a 'highest authority': as attempt to reduce this complex crisis to a power struggle is really very theatrical, but it doesn't correspond to reality.  God knows, how much all of the brothers pray for and support their sisters and to carry this consequences of this crisis with patience.  We have the secure hope that better times must come, and each will recognize the clear will of God."

Link to kath.net..