Cardinal Müller Issues ‘Manifesto of Faith’ The former Vatican doctrinal head upholds key teachings in the face of ‘growing confusion’ about Church doctrine and a ‘growing danger’ that people are ‘missing the path to eternal life.’ Edward Pentin | http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal-mueller-issues-manifesto-of-faith Cardinal Gerhard Müller has issued a forthright “manifesto of faith,” calling primarily on Church leaders to fulfil their obligation to lead people to salvation in the face of “growing confusion” about Church doctrine. In a four-page public testimony (see below) released in multiple languages Feb. 8, and whose title is taken from the Gospel of John “Let not your heart be troubled!”, the prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reasserts many key teachings of the faith, reminding clergy and laity it is up to “shepherds” to “guide those entrusted to them on the path of salvation.” “Today, many Christians are no longer even aware of the basic teachings of the Faith,” the German cardinal laments, “so there is a growing danger of missing the path to eternal life.” Written in response to requests from “many bishops, priests, religious and lay people,” the cardinal’s testimony comes as the Church awaits the Feb. 21-24 Vatican summit on clergy sexual abuse, and following statements and documents from the Pope down that many practicing faithful have, at times, found confusing, disorienting and inconsistent with the Church’s teaching. Cardinal Müller recalls that the “very purpose” of the Church is to lead humanity to Jesus Christ and underlines the importance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a “safe standard for the doctrine of the faith” that was written to counter a “dictatorship of relativism.” He then proceeds to quote copiously from the Catechism, interspersing passages with uncompromising commentary on what he sees as a crisis of confusion and disorientation in the Church. The German cardinal urges the faithful to “resist” with “clear resolve” a “relapse into ancient heresies,” which view Jesus Christ as “only a good person, brother and friend, prophet and moralist.” He stresses that the Church, founded by Christ as a “visible sign and tool of salvation,” does not “reflect herself but the light of Christ which shines on her face.” She is “not a man-made association whose structure its members voted into being at their will. It is of divine origin,” he explains. He underlines how the mediation of faith is “inextricably bound up with the human credibility of its messengers, who in some cases have abandoned the people entrusted to them, unsettling them and severely damaging their faith.” He cites holy Scripture, warning against those “who do not listen to the truth and who follow their own wishes, who flatter their ears because they cannot endure sound doctrine.” Cardinal Müller, who served as CDF prefect under Benedict XVI and Pope Francis from 2012 to 2017, goes on to reassert that if Holy Communion is received unworthily — such as by some divorced and civilly remarried persons or those not in full communion with the Church — they will not be brought to salvation. He underscores the Church’s commandment to go to confession at least once a year, explains the impossibility of ordaining women to the priesthood, and warns that a person who dies in mortal sin without repentance will be forever separated from God. The moral law, he says, is a “liberating truth” and the path of salvation which “may not be relativized.” The cardinal chastises bishops who “prefer to be politicians” rather than proclaim the Gospel, saying it leads many to wonder what the nature of the Church’s purpose is. He also reminds the faithful of the last judgment, the “narrow gate” to heaven, and the “dreadful possibility” that a person who remains opposed to God to the end of their life “condemns himself immediately and forever.” Silence: Greatest Deception Responding to criticism that many pastors and bishops are not teaching the hard truths of the faith, Cardinal Müller warns that to “keep silent” about these truths is “the greatest deception” — as vigorously warned about in the Catechism. “It represents the last trial of the Church and leads man to a religious delusion, ‘the price of their apostasy;’ it is the fraud of Antichrist,” he says, quoting again from the Catechism and echoing what Dutch Cardinal Willem Eijk said last year during the controversy over Holy Communion for Protestant spouses. “He will deceive those who are lost by all means of injustice,” Cardinal Müller adds, quoting from St. Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, “for they have closed themselves to the love of the truth by which they should be saved.” He closes his testimony by reminding that all the faithful must “recall these fundamental truths by clinging to what we ourselves have received.” And quoting St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he calls on bishops and priests to “preach the Word in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Cardinal Müller concludes with a prayer to Mary, the Mother of God, imploring her for the grace “to remain faithful without wavering to the confession of the truth about Jesus Christ.” Manifesto of Faith by Cardi... (This link is not working so please click on the article to view the document or click on the following #48 .) Edited to add the following article which gracia posted on a new thread: Cardinal Müller issues Manifesto: A quasi correction of Pope Francis’ pontificate 2/8/2019 https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/c...sto-a-quasi-correction-of-pope-francis-pontif *** I'm not sure that the following has been posted yet, Cardinal Müller: Clergy Sex Abuse Involves Sexual Misconduct, Not Merely Clericalism 1/23/2019 http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-mueller-clergy-sex-abuse-involves-sexual-misconduct-not-merely-cle
That Cardinal Muller has to point out that clerical sexual abuse involves 'sexual misconduct' is a sobering indication of how far down the rabbit-hole of lies some have gone with this, and other, issues. Why, we might soon even hear of some of these people asserting that 2+2 = 5. Or even that the pope supercedes Holy Scripture and the ancient Tradition of The Church. (Pardon me, what's that you say?) *************************************************************************************************** Clerics abuse younger people in common with non-clerics, in the sense that any older person, and not merely clerics, is in a position of power relative to a juvenile, on account of the latter's physical weakness, social position, immaturity and inexperience. In this context, 'clericalism' is not a necessary property as non-clerics exercise their will in a similar way. On the other hand, the charge of 'clericalism' can most certainly be applied in the case of male-on-male sexual predation (and that of nuns by male clerics) by superiors in the Church of those under their authority, because it is their clerical status that grants them the power to have their wicked way over their subordinate, regardless of his consent. In consequence, it would be wicked indeed to create the impression that this issue solely concerned sexual abuse of the under-age and must focus on the sexual abuse of all those, male and female and of all ages, in a position of subordinacy.
SIGN THE PETITION: Support Cdl. Müller's doctrinal manifesto amid Pope Francis' confusion Faithful Catholics are asked to sign Cardinal Müller's Manifesto of Faith, which is a reminder to all Catholics to adhere to the precepts of the faith which have been handed down, rejecting novelty in doctrine. 6,103 1 day ago (2/8/2019) Petition- To: Cardinal Müller and Pope Francis Your Eminence, During this time of heightening confusion in the Church we heartily support your Manifesto reiterating the Church’s enduring teaching and promoting clarity. It is bad enough that our faith is under attack from the world, but increasingly it is under attack from within the Church, even from the highest levels. We cannot sit idly by as our doctrines are subverted, our sacraments are profaned, and our holy traditions are trampled on. We fully support your Manifesto and thank you for issuing it. I sign my name to it, and I promise to join you in speaking the truth in and out of season. Sign This Petition *** When I signed the above petition this morning, I came across the following petition and signed it as well. I think that other members may want to do the same. By signing the following petition maybe we can help to make the February synod on sexual abuse in the Church a far more productive synod than what appears to be currently planned. SIGN THE PETITION: STOP homosexual networks in the Catholic Church At the meeting of Catholic Bishops in Rome, this February, the prelates must take drastic measures to deal firmly with and eradicate homosexual networks in the Church. This petition asks that they take several concrete measures to remedy this crisis . 10,661 4 days ago (2/4/2019) Petition- To: Their Eminences, Their Excellencies, and Participants of the Meeting of Bishops on Sexual Abuse Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, dear lay experts: We, the undersigned signatories, are in great distress about our Mother Church. The unholy predatory conduct of a far-reaching network of persons who are exercising sodomy in the Church and who support a “homosexual culture” is coming to light with increasing intensity. With 80% of the victims of clerical sexual abuse being male adolescents, it is clear that they are victims of homosexual abuse, and not just pedophilia. All of this is having a tremendously damaging effect upon the honor of the Catholic Church and her members and is estranging many people from the Faith. Therefore, we ask you to support the following: The emending of the Code of Canon Law to include the norm of canon 2359 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law of 1917, providing that any cleric found to have committed any delict against the Sixth Commandment with a minor, or sodomy or adultery with an adult, be suspended, publicly declared as having committed sexual misconduct, and deprived of any office, dignity, pension, and function if he have any, and in graver cases, dismissed from the clerical state. This return to past penal legislation is urgently needed also so as to punish the sexual offences committed by clerics against seminarians and novices who are not minors but young vulnerable adults. A declaration from the Pontifical Council from Legislative Texts stating that the above repristination of the norm of can. 2359, § 2 CIC 1917 against sexual misconduct comprises in its definition of “cleric” any Cardinal, Archbishop, and Bishop. A declaration from the Holy Father stating that any Bishop who has covered up for abuser priests will be removed from his office pursuant to the norm of can. 1389 CIC. That those priests, bishops and cardinals who who publicly or privately promote homosexuality or homosexual networks must be disciplined and, in severe cases, removed from the priesthood. That the papal document Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (“The Gift of the Priestly Vocation,” 2016) be credibly implemented, forbidding the priestly ordination of homosexual men. That reparation and atonement for the injuries to victims due to sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and adults must be made credibly both in spirit and means. Together with you, we wish to work for the establishment of a movement at all levels of our Church that has the courage and the strength of Faith and true Charity to resist surrender to the Zeitgeist, capitulation leading to the decay of moral standards, and practical espousal of the culture of death. We pledge our daily prayers for the achievement of the above goals. We pray earnestly that you, the Successors of the Apostles, may be strengthened to fight this good fight with the holy zeal of the Apostles of old. We beseech Christ the Lord Himself, Whom each cleric is called to emulate, to guide and protect you in your shepherding of His Flock, and the protection of innocent youth. Sign This Petition
Bishop: Catholic group's 'mission is evil' By Matt C. Abbott February 11, 2019 On Feb. 6, Bishop Robert D. Gruss of Rapid City, S.D., ordered a letter "[t]o be read from the pulpit at all Masses in the Diocese of Rapid City during the weekend of Feb. 9-10, 2019." An image of the letter can be seen below. In it, Gruss asserts that the mission of Illinois-based Roman Catholic Faithful, which has been working to oust Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, is "evil and guided by the Evil One." The bishop goes on to praise Cupich as "an effective leader and shepherd, leaving a legacy that will long mark the ministry in our diocese." On Feb. 10, RCF board member and Catholic attorney James Bendell issued the following open letter to Gruss: Your Excellency: I am General Counsel for Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc, and I write this letter in response to your February 6, 2019 letter to your flock, a copy of which has been provided to me. I am impressed that Your Excellency is able to read the minds of our members as to our motives for coming to Rapid City. You mention Cardinal Cupich. Very well, I challenge you to a public debate on the following – "Resolved, that Cardinal Cupich has promoted perversion and error, and he has betrayed the faithful during the times that he has served as bishop prior to being named Cardinal and assigned to Chicago." The debate will be videoed and made available in its entirety on the Internet. I am willing to debate you personally, not one of the personnel on your staff. You state that no bishop "deserves to be treated" as RCF has treated Cupich. On the contrary, no faithful Catholic of any diocese deserves to be misled and betrayed as Cupich has done. This will certainly be a lively debate, assuming you are not afraid of actually participating. The debate would be no longer that 60 or 90 minutes, and I'm sure that one of your many persons leading "ministries" could take care of your responsibilities during that time. Thousands of boys have been molested during the last several decades. RCF is committed to stopping this horrendous abuse. One of things that will help accomplish this goal is transparency, contrary to the climate of concealment practiced by the hierarchy over the last 50 years. Therefore, a public debate would be very healthy. Please contact me at my Idaho law office to arrange a time for the debate. Sincerely Yours in Christ, James Bendell, Esq. Earlier this year, Bendell provided me with the following bullet points on why the cardinal should be ousted: It has recently been learned that, while bishop of Spokane, Wash., Cupich knew the Church had parked retired abusive priests at Cardinal Bea House on the campus of Gonzaga University. He was aware of this fact yet failed to inform the university or the public of the presence of these predators. (Source) Cupich banished Father Paul Kalchik – himself a victim of sexual abuse by a neighbor and a priest earlier in his life – without due process, for burning a rainbow flag (which also featured a large cross on it) that was used in the parish many years ago under a different pastor. Father Kalchik should have been praised for this laudatory act in view of the Church's perennial teaching that sodomy is one of the four sins which cry to heaven for vengeance. (Source) Cupich has adopted a policy in the Archdiocese of Chicago that permits active homosexuals living in a 'marriage' to receive Holy Communion and ecclesiastical funeral rites. (Source) Cupich has apologized to Jews for the Church's attempt to convert them. In doing so, he has slandered the many missionaries who truly loved the Jewish people and wanted to bring them to Christ. (Source) Cupich locked out parishioners of a Traditional Latin Mass parish while he was bishop of Rapid City when they wanted to celebrate the Easter Triduum. In doing so, he demonstrated that he's basically a thug. (Source) While bishop of Spokane, Cupich discouraged his priests and seminarians from participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign. (Source) Also of note: In March 2018, Cupich removed Father C. Frank Phillips – founder and former superior of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius – as pastor of the world-renowned St. John Cantius Church, despite a review board's finding that Phillips did not violate any criminal, civil or canon law after being accused of improper conduct with adult men. The archdiocese never publicly specified the allegations against Phillips, which he vehemently denied. (Source) In August 2018, Cupich lashed out at critics of Pope Francis and supporters of whistleblower Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, asserting that those who are troubled about Francis' pontificate "don't like him because he's a Latino" and are thus racist bigots. (Source) Last but certainly not least, Cupich wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune downplaying Planned Parenthood's innumerable monstrosities by espousing the "seamless garment" philosophy. http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/190211
One should consider the possible interior motives here of accusing those most vehemently and openly against gay activity/lifestyle/sin of such, as a means of silencing those of good will and who preach the truth, and creating a spirit of suspicion around all priests.... And painting the priesthood as wholly dysfunctional in its conception from the beginning and in its continuing formation. Four in five Vatican priests are gay, book claims French journalist’s book is a ‘startling account of corruption and hypocrisy’, publisher says Some of the most senior clerics in the Roman Catholic church who have vociferously attacked homosexuality are themselves gay, according to a book to be published next week. Eighty per cent of priests working at the Vatican are gay, although not necessarily sexually active, it is claimed in the book, In the Closet of the Vatican. The 570-page book, which the French journalist and author Frédéric Martel spent four years researching, is a “startling account of corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of the Vatican”, according to its British publisher Bloomsbury. It is being published in eight languages across 20 countries next Wednesday, coinciding with the opening day of a conference at the Vatican on sexual abuse, to which bishops from all over the world have been summoned. Martel, a former adviser to the French government, conducted 1,500 interviews while researching the book, including with 41 cardinals, 52 bishops and monsignors, 45 papal ambassadors or diplomatic officials, 11 Swiss guards and more than 200 priests and seminarians, according to a report on the Catholic website the Tablet. Many spoke of an unspoken code of the “closet”, with one rule of thumb being that the more homophobic a cleric was, the more likely he was to be gay. Martel alleges that one Colombian cardinal, the late Alfonso López Trujillo, who held a senior Vatican position, was an arch-defender of church teaching on homosexuality and contraception while using male prostitutes, the Tablet said. The author found that some gay priests accepted their sexuality and a few maintained discreet relationships, but others sought high-risk casual encounters. Some were in denial about their sexuality. Although the book does not conflate homosexuality with the sexual abuse of children, Martel describes a secretive culture among priests that creates conditions in which abuse is not confronted, say people familiar with the book’s contents. According to Bloomsbury’s promotional material, Inside the Closet “reveals secrets” about celibacy, misogyny and plots against Pope Francis. It uncovers “a clerical culture of secrecy which starts in junior seminaries and continues right up to the Vatican itself”. Francis has riled his conservative critics in the Vatican over his apparently softer tone towards gay people. A few months into his papacy, he told reporters who asked about a “gay lobby” at the Vatican: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” Last year Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean survivor of sexual abuse, said Francis told him in a private meeting: “Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and I don’t care. The pope loves you like this. You have to be happy with who you are.” But a Polish priest who was sacked from his Vatican job and defrocked after announcing he was gay has accused the church of making the lives of millions of gay Catholics “a hell”. In a letter to Francis in 2015, Krzysztof Charamsa criticised what he called the Vatican’s hypocrisy in banning gay priests and said the clergy was “full of homosexuals”. In December, Francis was quoted in a book about vocations as saying homosexuality was a “fashion” to which the clergy was susceptible. “The issue of homosexuality is a very serious issue that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates [for the priesthood]. In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and that mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church,” he said. The timing of Inside the Closet’s publication, at the start of a milestone summit on sexual abuse, will raise concerns that some people may seek to conflate the two issues. But the book’s allegations are likely to be pored over by senior bishops flying into Rome from more than 100 countries for the four-day summit. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/12/four-in-five-vatican-priests-are-gay-book-claims Other articles on same....note this one's author is gay himself: The Gay Church Thousands of priests are closeted, and the Vatican’s failure to reckon with their sexuality has created a crisis for Catholicism. http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/gay-priests-catholic-church.html Explosive new book lifts lid on gay priests in the Vatican On the day that Pope Francis’ sex abuse summit is due to start, a potentially explosive book will be published claiming to lift the lid on gay priests in the Vatican and the double lives of senior officials. The book, “In the Closet of the Vatican”, written by French sociologist and journalist Frederic Martel, reports that around 80 per cent of clerics working in the Roman Curia are gay – although not necessarily sexually active – and details how they adhere to an unspoken code of the “closet”. https://www.thetablet.co.uk
Bishops applaud Cardinal Müller for ‘prophetic’ Manifesto of Faith Maike Hickson | https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/bishops-applaud-cardinal-mueller-for-prophetic-manifesto-of-faith catholic, gerhard müller, joseph strickland, manifesto of faith, marian eleganti, pope francis, thomas tobin Support Cdl. Müller's doctrinal manifesto amid Pope Francis' confusion. Sign the petition here. Sign the petition here. February 11, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – At least three bishops so far are publicly supporting Cardinal Gerhard Müller after he issued a “Manifesto of Faith” on Friday in the hope of clearing up the growing doctrinal confusion in the Church. Bishops Joseph Strickland, Thomas Tobin, and Marian Eleganti all expressed their gratitude to Cardinal Müller, the former head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for reaffirming the essential tenets of our Catholic Faith. “Thank God for Cardinal Müller's strength and fidelity to Christ and his Teaching,” says Bishop Strickland. Bishop Strickland, of Tyler, Texas, responded only half an hour after the publication of the Manifesto, in the late afternoon on February 8. He wrote on Twitter: “Let us embrace this joyful challenge with new vigor..............Cardinal Müller Issues ‘Manifesto of Faith’.” On Saturday morning, Bishop Thomas Tobin, of Providence, Rhode Island commented on Twitter: “I just read Cardinal Mueller's ‘Manifesto of Faith’. I really appreciate his clear, concise, and ordered approach. Highly quotable, and an excellent summary of the faith. 'May Mary, the Mother of God, implore for us the grace to remain faithful.'” Additionally, Bishop Marian Eleganti, the auxiliary bishop of Chur, Switzerland, sent an appreciative comment to LifeSite. “I am very grateful to Cardinal G.L. Müller for his prophetic statements concerning questions of the Faith and of the proclamation at a time of confusion and of bewilderment among many faithful and those who are seeking. The Holy Spirit may enlighten us and turn us into credible witnesses of the Gospels and of the Catholic Faith!” READ: Cardinal Müller issues Manifesto: A quasi correction of Pope Francis’ pontificate Cardinal Müller, who has issued his Manifesto of Faith in the capacity of the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, explicitly states that he had been asked to do so by many clergymen and laymen alike. He says: “In the face of growing confusion about the doctrine of the Faith, many bishops, priests, religious and lay people of the Catholic Church have requested that I make a public testimony about the truth of revelation. It is the shepherds' very own task to guide those entrusted to them on the path of salvation.” He further states that this Manifesto “was written with the aim of strengthening the Faith of the brothers and sisters whose belief has been massively questioned by the 'dictatorship of relativism.'” The support for Cardinal Müller comes as some have tried to characterize his Manifesto as an “attack” on Pope Francis. For example, Cardinal Walter Kasper, a high-profile liberal admired by Pope Francis, accused Müller of sowing “confusion and schism.” Cardinal Müller based his Manifesto fully on the teaching of the Catholic Church's 1992 Catechism and restates the Church's basic teaching on the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation; the Catholic Church as founded by Jesus Christ as an “instrument of salvation”; the Church's sacramental order, to include the teaching on the Holy Eucharist according to which only those in the state of sanctifying grace may receive Holy Communion fruitfully unto salvation; the moral law which interdicts acts like adultery, homosexuality, contraception, and abortion; as well as the danger of the eternal loss of one's soul. Cardinal Müller ends his text with a call, reminding all the “workers in the vineyard” to preserve the entire Catholic Faith and to pass it on loyally to the faithful: “As workers in the vineyard of the Lord, we all have a responsibility to recall these fundamental truths by clinging to what we ourselves have received. We want to give courage to go the way of Jesus Christ with determination, in order to obtain eternal life by following His commandments (CCC 2075).” The cardinal released his manifesto to a worldwide audience, in seven different languages, thus allowing for a widespread affirmation of the orthodox Catholic faith. To this end, LifeSite is hosting a petition at its LifePetitions platform so the Catholic clergy and faithful of the world, in all language groups, can make a visible sign of their support for the full and unvarnished faith and for the Cardinal’s initiative. Support Cdl. Müller's doctrinal manifesto amid Pope Francis' confusion. Sign the petition here. Sign the petition here
Gee, the timing of this book sure seems awfully convenient. I'm sure it is just a coincidence it is being released on such an occasion in 8 languages.
1 Corinthians 6 Do Not Take Believers to Court 6 Suppose one of you wants to bring a charge against another believer. Should you take it to ungodly people to be judged? Why not take it to the Lord’s people? 2 Or don’t you know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? Since this is true, aren’t you able to judge small cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? Then we should be able to judge the things of this life even more! 4 So suppose you disagree with one another in matters like this. Who do you ask to decide which of you is right? Do you ask people who live in a way the church disapproves of? Of course not! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that no one among you is wise enough to judge matters between believers? 6 Instead, one believer goes to court against another. And this happens in front of unbelievers! 7 When you take another believer to court, you have lost the battle already. Why not be treated wrongly? Why not be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong. And you do it to your brothers and sisters. 9 Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who sleep with other men. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom. 11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of this was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was also done by the Spirit of our God.
Cdl. Kasper accuses Cdl. Müller of promoting ‘confusion and schism’ with Manifesto Maike Hickson | https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/...er-of-promoting-confusion-and-schism-with-man catholic, communion for protestants, communion for remarried, gerhard müller, manifesto of faith, walter kasper Support Cdl. Müller's doctrinal manifesto amid Pope Francis' confusion. Sign the petition here. February 11, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – On February 10, Cardinal Walter Kasper responded to Cardinal Gerhard Müller's recent Manifesto. Katholisch.de, the website of the German bishops, published Kasper’s full statement, which accuses Müller's text of containing “half truths” and merely “personal theological views,” and therefore promoting “confusion and schism.” Kasper even compares Cardinal Müller, the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to Martin Luther, insinuating that he tries to bypass the Pope in his push for various reforms. Katholisch.de published only a very short report about Müller's text, but published Kasper's entire statement. At the beginning, Cardinal Kasper says, “without doubt,” the Manifesto contains “many doctrines which can only be approved full heartedly by any upright Catholic.” However, he says that there are “some truths” that are being presented “in such a pointed way that the other half is being blocked.” As an example, the German cardinal presents Cardinal Müller's reiteration of the teaching on the Holy Trinity, “which presents, without doubt, a fundamental difference” to other religions. “But are there not also things we have in common, especially with the Jews as with the Muslims, in the belief in one God?” Kasper asks, adding they are fundamental for the “peace in the world.” “The half-truth is not the Catholic truth!” he exclaims. Furthermore, Kasper accuses Müller of presenting “a manifesto of private theological views.” Here, Kasper refers to his fellow cardinal's statement that both “remarried” divorcees and non-Catholic Christians – just as all who are not properly disposed – cannot “fruitfully” receive the Holy Eucharist “because it does not bring them to salvation.” Here, Cardinal Müller makes reference to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which teaches, “Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion” before receiving an absolution in the Sacrament of Penance (CCC 1457). But Cardinal Kasper claims that, in this specific number of the Catechism, he cannot find Cardinal Müller's own sentence: “I have looked it up twice and did not find this sentence this way.” Moreover, he adds, “I also do not know any other dogmatically binding statement which contains this sentence in this form.” Cardinal Kasper also tries to argue that one cannot find in the Church's teaching that “remarried” divorcees and non-Catholic Christians cannot receive the Holy Eucharist fruitfully, unto salvation. Further adding to the spreading confusion, Kasper argues against Müller's using the expression “whose sacramental marriage exists before God,” saying that this sentence implies that there are, indeed, some sacramental marriages that do not exist before God. “Who can decide about this, and what is with them?” Kasper asks. Further questioning Cardinal Müller's doctrinal document, Kasper claims that his words about celibacy are incomplete since the 1992 Catechism states that priests “normally” choose celibacy, but that there are also exceptions to this general rule, such as in the Eastern rites and with converts from Protestantism and Anglicanism. Cardinal Müller had stated: “Therefore, priests voluntarily opt for celibacy as ‘a sign of new life’ (CCC 1579).” While Müller had not mentioned the “viri probati” (morally proven married men) as such, Kasper comments: “Even if I am of the personal opinion that one should reflect once again anew and in a deeper fashion about the freely-chosen celibacy of the priests, at least the discussion on the viri probati may not be forbidden.” Moreover, Kasper says he is “totally appalled” about the end of the Müller Manifesto and its words on the Antichrist. Müller wrote: “To keep silent about these and the other truths of the Faith and to teach people accordingly is the greatest deception against which the Catechism vigorously warns. It represents the last trial of the Church and leads man to a religious delusion, ‘the price of their apostasy’; it is the fraud of Antichrist.” Here, Cardinal Kasper feels “reminded, and nearly verbatim, of Martin Luther's argumentation. Also Luther at the time rightly criticized much in the Church. But the Antichrist-accusation was even then inappropriate – as today also our Lutheran partners of dialogue say. Is there behind the manifesto a Luther redivivus [reborn], one who rightly works for reforms in the Church, but then wishes to impose them while bypassing the Pope and working against him?” “I do not wish to believe this, that could only lead to confusion and schism,” Kasper adds. “This would unhinge the Catholic Church.” Here it might be worthwhile to remember that, in 1993, then-Bishop Kasper was one of three German bishops who issued his own guidelines permitting some “remarried” divorcees access to Holy Communion. The bishops issued these guidelines without first asking for the Pope's approval. Subsequently, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had to intervene. It rejected the statement of these three German bishops – Kasper, Karl Lehmann, and Oskar Saier. Peter Winnemöller, a German Catholic journalist writing for the Austrian website Kath.net, says that this Kasper intervention is “manipulation.” He says: “It was only a question of time until someone from St. Gallen would enter the ring.” Of Kasper accusing Müller of half-truths and Kasper presenting himself as “the defender of full truths,” Winnemöller comments: “Great, the whole truth, for example the one that the Africans should not participate in the discussion on the level of the Universal Church because they do not understand the problems of Europe, he once explained to us.” This is a reference to the incident when Kasper, during the 2014 Synod on the Family, told some journalists demeaningly that Africans “should not tell us too much” with regard to the question of homosexuality: “I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve. There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.” Cardinal Kasper at first denied having spoken these words and then, after Edward Pentin published the audio file proving the cardinal did in fact say them, he apologized. Winnemöller also points out that, “because one cannot attack the Manifesto of Faith of Cardinal Müller in its substance, Kasper plays the game indirectly and presents peculiar aspects of truth which are in the current context completely irrelevant,” such as the reference to the monotheistic belief of all three world religions. “Kasper does not explain to us why this is important with regard to [the] strengthening of the Catholic Faith,” the German journalist says. Kasper, according to the German journalist, “manipulates” readers by twisting the words of his fellow cardinal when speaking about “remarried” divorcees and non-Catholic Christians. While Müller spoke “from the inner logic of the Sacrament” of the Holy Eucharist and thus explained why such persons cannot fruitfully receive Holy Communion, Kasper reduces the sentence to a reference to a specific number of the Catechism. “Kasper accuses his fellow brother in the College of Cardinals of misquoting the Catechism. This is a worst form of manipulation,” the German journalist comments, and then presents the two statements on the matter by both Kasper and Müller. “Here, one can clearly see how Cardinal Kasper manipulates the readers,” Winnemöller adds. He also notes that Katholisch.de published only a very vague presentation of Müller's Manifesto but published the whole statement by Kasper. “The manipulation will take its course,” Winnemöller continues. “It is to be hoped that many priests display it [the Müller Manifesto] and distribute it [in their parishes].”
I'm not certain that I have seen the above article or this one posted yet and I apologize if they have been. Modernist cardinal, liberal theologian, and author attack Cardinal Müller’s ‘Manifesto of Faith’ Dorothy Cummings McLean | https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/m...ologian-and-author-attack-cardinal-muellers-m austen ivereigh, barbara nicolosi, carl olson, catholic, congregation for the doctrine of the faith cdf, gerhard müller, manifesto of faith, massimo faggioli, nick donnelly, pope francis, robert royal, vatican, walter kasper Support Cdl. Müller's doctrinal manifesto amid Pope Francis' confusion. Sign the petition here. February 11, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) ― The usual suspects have come out against a Catholic cardinal’s orthodox profession of faith. Cardinal Walter Kasper, Dr. Massimo Faggioli, and author Austen Ivereigh have all responded negatively to Cardinal Gerhard Müller’s “Manifesto of Faith.” Cardinal Kasper, whose dimming career was rekindled by Pope Francis upon the latter’s election, wrote that although there were professions of faith in the document that all Catholics could affirm, there were some “unacceptable blanket statements,” including Müller’s belief that the consciences of some Catholics have not been “sufficiently formed.” Kasper was also disturbed that Müller had not emphasized the commonalities between the monotheistic world religions, particularly among Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Kasper disagreed with Müller’s defense of marriage and the celibate priesthood. He finished his critique by saying he was “totally horrified” by Müller’s assertion that failing to teach the truths of faith was “the fraud of the Antichrist.” Citing Martin Luther, whom he stated “rightly criticized much in the Church,” Kasper suggested that Müller accused Pope Francis of being the Antichrist. He indicated that he believed Müller wanted to pursue “reforms behind the Pope’s back and enforce them in opposition to him.” Müller stated that this “could only lead to confusion and division” and could “upset the Catholic Church.” In response to Kasper’s statement, Deacon Nick Donnelly opined over Twitter that Kasper represented a conspiracy to corrupt Catholic doctrine. “Cardinal Kasper's condemnation of Cardinal Muller's 'manifesto of faith' shows that he is no longer Catholic,” the English deacon tweeted. “He represents a conspiracy that is seeking to take over the Catholic Church and corrupt her beliefs and disciplines,” Donnelly continued. “(Kasper) is an enemy of Christ's Church.” Faggioli, a professor of theology at Villanova University, indirectly attacked Cardinal Müller over Twitter, suggesting that he and other cardinals were spreading “dissent.” “What cardinals and bishops says is not on the same level of what theologians says: it carries more responsibility towards the unity of the Church,” he tweeted yesterday. “However, those who for decades tried to shut up dissenting theologians are now defending and spreading the public dissent of cardinals.” Faggioli did not disclose which Church doctrines from which he believed theologians were dissenting and spreading cardinals' dissent. The oft-tweeting professor also opined that “petty teachers” can make orthodox Catholic doctrine or theologians “look petty.” “Petty teachers can make any text look petty, even the Catechism of the Catholic Church or Augustine or Thomas Aquinas.” To this, Catholic World Report editor Carl Olson acidly responded, “Just think what they can do with Twitter … ” Despite the remarks, Faggioli wrote that he would not write about Cardinal Müller’s manifesto or sign a petition against him. He indicated that he thought the document was an attack on both Pope Francis and the Congregation of which Müller was the head from 2012 until 2017. “I fully support pope Francis but I am not writing or signing petition about cardinal Mueller's latest statement,” he tweeted. “On the other hand, I am curious to see if the CDF is going to do or say anything, given that Mueller's move is an attack against pope Francis but also against the CDF.” Ivereigh, an Englishman who wrote a biography of Pope Francis, called the cardinal’s manifesto “a naked power play.” “A naked power play,” he wrote on Twitter. “Declare a state of confusion, then promote yourself as the one to ‘resolve’ it. “In implying that a former Vatican bureaucrat needs to step in to fill a supposed vacuum, you delegitimise the papal magisterium,” he continued. “And confuse the faithful.” “Or maybe the pope is in error and needs fraternal correction,” Catholic screenwriter Barbara Nicolosi tweeted in response. In The Catholic Thing blog post, Robert Royal of EWTN’s “Papal Posse” commended Cardinal Müller for his “sturdy clarity.” Royal addressed Müller’s warning that bad teaching has led to “a growing danger of missing the path to eternal life” and reflected that Christ Himself taught that hell is a possibility. “I raise this point in full knowledge that the infernal propaganda machine long ago succeeded in making anyone who brings up Hell appear like the longhair kook on the street corner with the sign: The End Is Near. For many people, even Christians, God is just too Nice a Guy for such things,” Royal wrote. “But the words are Jesus’,” he continued. As Mueller remarks, ‘We are to resist the relapse into ancient heresies with clear resolve, which saw in Jesus Christ only a good person, brother and friend, prophet and moralist.’” Royal concluded his article with Müller’s recognition that “It is the shepherds’ very own task to guide those entrusted to them on the path of salvation. This can only succeed if they know this way and follow it themselves.”
Pope Francis is not a 'Latino' in the standard sense of the word. He is, like many Argentinians, almost completely Italian. The irony is that we alleged 'racists' would collectively drop to our knees in celebration if Cardinal Sarah ever becomes pope. The sides are, at least, becoming clear. It is astonishing how quick the progressives are to smear their opponents with the accusation of 'diabolic' influence. They are resorting to a combination of character assassination and the attempt to foment fear.
Yes indeed. It is sad to think that there are those among our own priests who have not experienced this washing away or who have and have returned to the wrong path. I hope before they meet God they repent.
According to Eccles, Father Tim Finnegan has discovered a massive veiled attack on Pope Francis-he has discovered that millions of Catholics throughout the world recited the Nicene Creed last Sunday! This is an even greater rebellion than Cardinal Muller's irresponsible resort to Scripture and the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. The rabble, notable by the great prominence of so few, are on the run. Their game is nearly up. Ivereigh, Kasper, Faggioli, over and over and over again. Hardly a great groundswell of the hordes, is it? And looking increasingly desperate.
I am very much aware of the troubles the Catholic church has and for a long time now. It is enough to loose ones faith in church. That's why I see the troubles but these are man made and so I keep my eyes on Jesus and his words and this keeps my faith in the church strong. The only thing that has changed since Jesus arrived is man and his doings. Aside from this the foundation of the church will never change. God cannot loose. God bless you... Gary
Just when I thought that I was beyond being shocked by anything going on in the Church. My lower jaw is on the floor. How much worse can it get? But one positive thing emerges for me personally, I now know of the Thomist theologian, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, who tried to forestall the situation in which we now find ourselves.
As a person who believes as scripture teaches and that which has always been the case since the creation of mankind, God promises to send us his prophets to make us fully aware of the age we live in and what to look out for in the coming. He has surely been doing this at a more aggressive rate in the past 50 years then at any time in history. This prophetic consensus is what gives me strength at this time and going forward. The saints and the prophets have told us everything we need to know and how to persevere through it all. It is no time for the faithful remnant to cower or run scared, it is a time, as a few in the clergy are doing now, and speaking out that God is the same yesterday, today and always! His truth does not change with the times> Yes, the purification will be no picnic for anyone, but those in sanctifying grace, under the mantle of Mary and living in the Divine Will know how to persevere. One day at a time and one prayer at a time. Whatever challenge God allows in our life, he will provide sufficient grace to overcome its evil. We have been told everything heaven has given for these times.
