Fr Mark Goring ranted against the notion of all religions as paths to God. He did not mention anyone by name.
Of course. To stick with the papacy defines what it is to be a Catholic. However, it is necessary to distinguish the office from the man who happens to hold it. Saint Peter was the first pope from the moment Christ made him His 'rock'. At the first crisis, the 'rock' soon dissolved into jelly. Peter denied his master repeatedly. The Risen Christ didn't fire him or dissolve his office, thinking maybe a synod of Apostles might do better. Surely, it is perfectly legitimate to criticise Peter for his failings-is that not the reason that the story appears in the Gospels? Peter didn't hesitate to criticise himself. Those who included the unflattering story of Peter's pusillanimity in the Gospels were hardly abandoning his position as first pope. Are those who now loyally criticise Peter's successor, not the authority of his position, for what they perceive as blatant conduct unbecoming, doing any different? Is it not the case that they are mostly criticising him, not against the papacy, but out of respect for the papacy and the affront to that office that his unorthodox opinions represent. I'm not abandoning the papacy, even if the next ten popes are increasingly worse than Pope Francis. The office will remain sound, and loyalty to it the definition of being a Catholic, even if occupied by satanists. May God forbid such an experience.
Yes, stick with the office , not necessarily the person who appears to hold the office at a particular time
I like the sense he makes in regards to an approach/belief in ecumenism of octogenarians being one of the failures of the church in modern times. I really think this is underrated. Because it also relates to the spirit of the 60's and Vatican II. As many of you know, many priests have said that this spirit of the 60's is still alive and well in the church. It's like they are stuck in a time warp and cannot or will not see past the failures of this kind of approach. So hopefully we are seeing the last of the bad fruits of this. Those in their teens and twenties during the sixties are now octogenarians. I continue to be interested in permaculture and soil health because of Jesus teachings. One of the interesting things mentioned by Dr. Ingham is that disease comes when soil health is diminished. I am starting to better see the church authorities as farmers who tend to the laity. When those farmers use practices that impede the health of the laity, they will get continually diminished returns. Which we have seen in the church for decades now, yet they continue to use the same practices. Sometimes in a more aggressive manner, as if more will fix things. But there is hope. The permaculture/soil health trends have increased greatly since the 70's. Basically because "by their fruits ye shall know them". Some of the biggest corn yields are happening on no dig /cover crop fields. What I am saying is that regardless of what church authorities are doing, there will be places of spiritual revival, which will be seen as successful, that will be adopted by other parishes.
It more reminds me of the ancient Irish stories about wandering across a bog at night along a good safe road. You're on a hurry to get home from the pub and think to yourself, especially when you've had a few drinks in you and are in good form, its turning cold and dark and you want home to the fire. So then you see a shortcut across the bog that will get you home, it seems much , much quicker. But the good road you are on, the road that had been used for thousands of years by anyone with any sense , the road of Tradition winds and curves , with it seems no reason. So why take it? The Apostles took it.. Jesus told them to. The Fathers of the Church took it. The Doctors of the Church took it. All the saints took it. All the previous Popes took it. But you know better than any of them. You're a brand new Jesuit Pope and its a whole brand new World. There's a great shortcut and whole New Magisterium that has spotted a shortcut across the bog. Why not take it? Other people from the pub seeing no less than the Pope himself take the shortcut follow along behind, all of them singing as they cross it. For after all . he's the Pope. We're good Catholics, how could a Pope ever be wrong? God forbid! So out into the darkness of the bog they sail, singing, leaving the firm certainty of the Catholic road of the Magisterium behind. Following the strange new Pope. Out across the wide dark bog.
One of the remarkable things currently, IMO, is the return of exorcists to the stage. The church either got rid of them or forgot about them entirely. People are taking serious notice of the effects and necessity of spiritual warfare. Especially since Fr. Ripperger initially took to the internet in the early 2010's on Sensus Fidelium. Monseigneur Rossetti's ministry supposedly had 6000 online attendees, which I am sure will only grow. I fully expect to see more exorcists start performing online deliverance ministry. I listened to a farmer with 12,000 acres of land, who switched to "cover crops / no till" from "fertilizer / pesticides / herbicides", say that on his land he now has 3600 varieties of insects. Of those, 200 are detrimental. However, the other 3400 species keep them in check. Like you said, there are no short-cuts, but rather what works.
Here is another thing that just came to mind, a huge part of the evangelization of Jesus and the Apostles was deliverance.
I came across an article that more or less confirms "the bog theory". Here's a couple of links to something called the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. One of the members of this org is being touted possibly as our next PM. I'm not going to waste any more energy getting angry or worked up. No wonder Sister Agnes' last message was one word: Penance https://www.inclusivecapitalism.com/member/eric-harr/ https://www.inclusivecapitalism.com/organization/religions-for-peace/
Things are so dark, I try to look for and focus on what is positive as St Paul suggested.. The Church at the moment reminds me of Early Spring. There are a lot of bright, beautiful flowers and trees coming into bloom but it takes us all to look out for them. The Pharisees and Sadducees thought that when killed Jesus everything would be over. But the death of Jesus was only the start, not the end. I think the devil thinks top down ,whereas God thinks bottom up. The devil thinks because he controls those in charge he controls everything in the Church. But this won't work. The real power of the Church lies in the ordinary men and women who pray and go to Church each day. It will be these ordinary everyday working Catholics who will save the Church. I don't think there is anyway for the devil to overcome this.
You are absolutely correct in this. Look for and enjoy the beauty that is all around us and is but a great gift from the Most High.
Yes, laughter is the sound of the bells of the Holy Spirit ringing in our hearts. No laughter, no bells. It is the devil who is deadly serious. As St Teresa of Avila said, 'Lord, save me from sad faced saints'. She also said to an artist who had painted her picture, 'May God forgive you Senor, you have made me look like a sad faced old prune!'
Very astute. Yes I believe top down is the devil.and bottom up is God's way. Like seeds in the ground all winter and then in the first pale sunshine of early spring they begin to come up. One by one. Hidden and vulnerable but relentless. Until they burst forth in glorious beauty.
Although the Church is going through a very,very Great Trial at the moment. The worst in its entire history. I would not discount this.
