I saw this too, and have to really wonder if a lot of this is just here-say. But the fact remains that even if the Pope did say and believes this, it is only his personal opinion and would not effect Church doctrine. The Pope has no authority to change the teachings of Jesus or Church doctrine. It would certainly cause much scandal and probably lead a lot of people into sin, but we as Christ's disciples would not change our way down the narrow path of obeying the commandments of Christ. It also does not mean he is the anti Christ or possessed. It only means he has lost his sense of sin and is tempted into the same false sympathy the whole world seems to be in right now. He is a man, and has struggles with God and the commandments like all humans. Once I asked Jesus WHY all this was happening with the Church, as it caused so much scandal and confusion. Jesus told me He "was separating the sheep from the goats." In other words, only those WORTHY and willing to do God's will would be admitted into the Kingdom. Lets all run as though for the crown, and keep ourselves from sin, and also keep repenting from our sins and faults. We already know that when Jesus returns there won't be much faith left on earth, if any, as He Himself tells us.....
Ever less importance is being given to the Holy Eucharist http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/search/label/World Youth Day
Theres money to be made reporting news. "Pope reaffirms 2000 years of catholic teaching" is a headline that doesn't make a lot of money for sky news and CNN. When the sensationalist spin is gone, it's always interesting to read how far of the real story is from the reported one. I take the example of the 3 wise men in situations like this: Instead of watching the news and the leaders of the time, they stuck to their knitting, watching the stars for the coming of the messiah.
I too will hold off on commenting too much before we find out what was really said. But I find the fact that there has been almost no attempt to "correct" the "misinterpretations" (all the prior incidents, not just this one) very, very concerning.
I've never read any of the MDM nonsense. I only read Church approved apparitions. That being said, many traditional Catholics have grave misgivings about the direction our Church is heading under this current Pope. For good reason.
Well I am no MDM follower and never have been but I do feel a need to acknowledge what is happening and prepare myself for what appears to be a very likely, if not inevitable, outcome when the bishops report on this matter. Cardinal Kasper was appointed to lead the Synod on Family Life and he has made no secret whatever about his view (indeed since as early as 1992, he has loudly proclaimed it) he shares his view with the great majority of German, Austrian, Swiss and Benelux bishops that there must be some 'latitude' permitted in the matter of the divorced and 'remarried' and the Sacraments. Cardinal Kasper has suggested to Cardinals at the Consistory on the 22 February, that Church law should remain unaltered but that priests should be permitted the discretion to admit divorced and 'remarried' people to the Sacraments after a suitable period of penitent reflection. The Pope is on record as praising the theology behind this suggestion. There is, I am afraid, absolutely no doubt that he supports this innovation, he has not hidden his admiration for either Cardinal Kasper or his thoughts on this particular matter. Anyone who doubts this is really just ignoring the facts. It is known that this 'latitude' is already being exercised by the 'turning of a blind eye' (which I have witnessed) or by positive encouragement of those affected to return to the sacraments by priests in the west. Thus little will change in practical terms except that priests who wish to adhere to Church law and decide not to exercise a 'right' to ignore it, may well suffer at the hands of bishops unsympathetic to their scruples and some have expressed fears of that situation arising. http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/03/very-relevant-exclusive-for-la-stampa.html
Before you can cook a rabbit you have to catch it. The rabbits still out there running. Lets all wait and see.
Jimmy Akin has an article on the subject. http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimm...remarried-woman-she-could-rece/#ixzz2ziuUW4x7
To "SteveD" and "BrianK": your reactions are very reassuring.... I know we have to be cautious because we know bad things will happen in Church, but I can not bear anymore with the comments from those who follow MDM because their reporting is, to say the least, very subjective. And you "Charity" ? Sorry, for asking me....
Rest most assured that I have never been or will ever be a MDM follower or believer. I almost didn't want to post this article because I got I bad feeling I was talking behind our Papas back :-( but it was on Spirit Daily which is usually a discerning site so I went ahead. I will most assuredly stay away from any such posts in the future. Lesson learned Mama Mary. :-(
The one message from Pedro Regis that keeps resurfacing in my mind is that at some point, something huge, something gravely divisive will tear the faithful apart. He keeps revealing our Blessed Mothers message that we must "hold on to the truths we have been taught" no matter what. I am not going to say this moment will come via Pope Francis and I pray it does not, but he does walk on the cutting edge of several doctrinal issues. This I find at times uncomfortable. Jesus admonished and withdrew from the Pharisees when they held to human laws, but Jesus never came close to the edge of dissent on divine doctrines.
The article at http://davidgibson.religionnews.com...is-really-tell-divorced-woman-take-communion/ states that the Vatican has confirmed the call occurred. From the same article: Lisbona said the pope told her she should go to Communion, though she did not provide many other details. She seems put off by all the fuss. “This received too much public attention. He told me to go and take Communion in a different parish, but now I won’t be able to go anywhere,” she told the radio. The pope said he was “dealing with the issue” of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, and she added: “Then he told me there are some priests who are more papist that the pope. He was completely normal with me on the phone and I tried to speak to him with the utmost respect. Now I am overwhelmed by the enormous effect this story has had and I feel moved by the fact that I spoke to Francis. I told him I would write to him again when I take Communion again.” Unfortunately this story has the ring of authenticity. I see no reason at present to doubt the veracity of the woman's claims as they simply reiterate what Cardinal Kasper has been spouting with the blessing of this Pope.
What a great article by Jimmy Akin. There could be huge amounts of detail behind this story that we dont know. The liberal media will spin this for their own agendas though. I can see the headlines already "Pope softens stance on divorce", "Pope OK's remarriage for divorced catholics" etc. All eye catching headlines. Boosting ratings and thus ad revenue for the media machine. Wait. Muddy water, left to stand, clears. I remember after Comet Ison burned up. The media were saying we were in for a treat - "a huge display of an intense meteor shower from the debris. The moon would be full and would make the meteors easier to see by illuminating them" (paraphrased news quote). Well what a juicy news headline that was....pulling in viewers/readers like there was no tomorrow. Pity it was nonsense - all of it, for 2 reasons: 1. We were never ever in any real position to experience a meteor event from Ison. 2. A full moon brightens the sky, drowning out meteors, which are lost in the glare of moonlight, and destroys meteor showers, which are best viewed from dark, rural skies. I use this example to illustrate that if its reported that the Pope did X, Y or Z, I always check it out myself rather than be spoonfed agenda driven scenarios. Great to read Mr Akins take on it, a man Ive read for years and is usually balanced and sound in his reasonings.
Thank you Charity. Sorry again for me asking that particular question. But when we are serious (as you are) and do not follow MDM (who's messages are obvious fake), then we can in an objective way continue to "analyse" and discern what the Pope is really saying and come to correct conclusions. So your posting of that article is for me ok.
The following is from the Vatican website this morning: 2014-04-24 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi, has responded to widespread media reports about an Argentinian woman who says that Pope Francis called to tell her she could take Communion, even though her husband is divorced and they have not been married in church. News stories earlier this week ran conflicting reports about the woman, Jacquelina Lisbona, who had written to the Pope several months ago after being denied Communion by her parish priest. According to the reports, Fr Bergoglio, as he called himself, picked up the phone to respond to her letter on Monday and told her the Church was in the process of dealing with the issue of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics. In his brief remarks on Thursday, Fr Lombardi said such conversations should be seen in the context of the Pope’s “personal pastoral relationships” and not as an event that carries “consequences relating to the teaching of the Church”. Below please find the English language translation of Fr Lombardi’s remarks: Several telephone calls have taken place in the context of Pope Francis’ personal pastoral relationships. Since they do not in any way form part of the Pope's public activities, no information or comments are to be expected from the Holy See Press Office. That which has been communicated in relation to this matter, outside the scope of personal relationships, and the consequent media amplification, cannot be confirmed as reliable, and is a source of misunderstanding and confusion. Therefore, consequences relating to the teaching of the Church are not to be inferred from these occurrences. http://www.news.va/en/news/fr-lombardi-responds-to-reports-of-popes-call-to-a
