How shocking. We are having the Trocaire collection today. Maybe I will give my planned donation instead to a man I know who travels every year to India and supports projects run by Mr Teresa's nuns.
Dolours I read the link you gave above and I must say that firstly I am at a loss as to why this despicable creature, ms cowardness herself "bonino", who boasts of mass murderering defencless humans, was even invited into a Catholic church?! And furthermore, why were normal christian/catholic or even pagan people who were opposed to bonino demonic and anti life agenda escorted outside the church? I'm wondering did this actually happen in our dimension? or did this occur in some devil possessed satanist wet dream! I am floundering at the moment because I have also just watched many four corners docs over the last twenty years dealing with the churches deceptions of child sexuathat but hopefullly I will recollect myself soon!
They opened their doors to Ms Bonino because Pope Francis has first opened the door to her. He calls this, 'Accompaniment'. The Holy Father has actually called her, who happens to be Italy's greatest proponent of both abortion and Euthanasia, publically, 'A forgotten great' (his words , not mine) https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/t...pes-praise-for-italys-leading-abortion-pusher EDITORIAL March 11, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – The news of Pope Francis’ praise for Italian abortionist and leftist activist politician Emma Bonino has caused a stir among Catholics worldwide. Some English-speaking Catholics have defended the Pope’s remarks and condemned reports on them, while pro-life leaders, especially those in Italy, have expressed dismay. Critics are arguing that the Pope’s dealings with major culture of death advocates is imitating Christ Himself. But is the pope’s praise of Bonino actually comparable to Christ dining with Zacchaeus? Obviously not. Christ’s entire mission was focused on the call to repentance, and when He invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house that was the clear purpose. As we know, Zacchaeus did indeed repent of his sins. When Pope Francis offers unqualified praise of Italy’s leading abortion advocate, calling her a “forgotten great,” it has the opposite effect. It confirms her in her error. It gives the impression that someone can still be one of Italy’s “greats” despite killing thousands of babies and promoting a host of moral evils. Essentially, those things aren’t important enough to tarnish a person’s record. As I noted in a speech before Catholic pro-life leaders in Rome last year, pro-life and pro-family leaders would be rejoicing if the Holy Father was meeting with abortionists and promoters of homosexuality if it was clear that he was calling them to repentance. Without that we are left with grave confusion. Francis has similarly caused confusion by celebrating Mass and exchanging gifts with the leading pro-homosexual priest in Italy, his greeting and embracing of his homosexual friend and the friend’s homosexual partner, and his appointment to the Synod on the Family of cardinals and bishops openly at odds with Church teaching on life and family. The Pope’s praise for Bonino is comparable to him praising Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards for her work promoting STD testing without referring to her far more prominent work directing the largest abortion provider in the United States. Of course, the Pope did not praise Bonino as one of Italy’s “forgotten greats” because of her work on abortion – he was lauding her work with refugees. Some have argued that linking the Pope’s praise to her abortion work is irresponsible journalism. But if the Pope praised Cecile Richards as a “forgotten great,” pro-life Catholics in the U.S. would rightly be alarmed. It’s no different for Bonino, and that explains why pro-life Italians have reacted so strongly. Former US ambassador and presidential candidate Dr. Alan Keyes has rightly asked, “Is Pope Francis blind to the fact that his praise for Bonino will be used to throw the lustrous vestments of the Papacy around the shoulders of the whole abortion movement, in order to enhance the glamor of evil?” Dr. Keyes expressed concern that the Holy Father’s “accolades” for Bonino, which he says “simply disregard God’s standard of righteousness,” would “deepen the morally inverted sensibility that calls evil, good and good, evil.” Suggestions that the Pope did not know about Bonino’s controversial stances are dismissed by Italians since she was famously arrested for illegal abortions and then became a politician who has led the fight for the legalization of abortion in the nation. As well, for many years she has promoted euthanasia, homosexual “marriage,” legalization of recreational drugs, graphic sex education, and more. Beyond that, Pope Francis has been acquainted with Bonino and the Radical Party leadership for years and been openly criticized for his warm relations with them, which have never involved open calls to repentance. In her capacity as Italian foreign minister, Bonino, along with President Georgio Napolitano and his key ministers, was granted an audience with Pope Francis on June 8, 2013. In April 2014, Bonino called Pope Francis to help end the hunger strike of Radical Party leader Marco Pannella. The Pope made the call and promised to join Pannella in his bid to better conditions in Italian prisons. In May 2015 the Vatican Insider reported that Pope Francis personally invited Bonino to an audience in the Paul VI Hall. Finally, Eugenio Scalfari, the controversial anti-Catholic reporter to whom Pope Francis continues to give private interviews despite numerous scandals, is a founding member of the Radical Party.
Here’s what leaders of the most significant pro-life groups in Italy are saying about the Pope’s praise for Bonino: Virginia Coda Nunziante, President of Famiglia Domani: Starting in 1968 Emma Bonino has been in Italy the symbol of transgression . With Marco Pannella, she has been the leader of all campaigns against life and family: they brought in Italy the law on divorce (1970), on abortion (1978), the legalisation of drugs (in different steps) and now homosexual unions. With our association Famiglia Domani we organized several campaigns against Emma Bonino beginning in the late 80s until very recent years when she has been Minister of Foreign Affairs and then a candidate as President of the Republic. Pope Francis' role does not require a deep knowledge of all personalities, but it goes without saying that when he speaks of a specific, publicly well known person, he cannot ignore who is he talking about. Especially because everybody knows who Emma Bonino is and what has she done to destroy the Christian roots of Italy. Toni Brandi, President of Pro-Vita As laymen it is our duty to criticize the person that is seated on Peter 's chair when our conscience tells us he is wrong, as the Pope is infallible only when he talks ex- cathedra. We must pray that the Holy Spirit brings Francis on the right road which is the Gospel and the Magisterium. Luca Volonte, an Italian politician and the President of the pro-life Novae Terrae Foundation The Pope was not really informed about how much Mrs. Bonino has done in Italy and at international level for promoting abortion and euthanasia. She did well in Egypt but also there she promoted her anti-life values. The Pope was wrong, and worse were the members of His secretariat for not informing him". Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro, former head of Human Life International’s Rome Office (retired in 2015) How can the pope praise a woman that is best known in Italy for practicing illegal abortion and promoting abortion? As Christian politicians increasingly struggle to remain true to pro-life and pro-family stances in public office and endure much criticism, it is harmful for the Pope to openly praise, without clear and necessary qualifications, a politician such as Bonino. It undermines the sacrifices many pro-life politicians have made and may even bring them to question the need to remain solid in their voting patterns. It also undermines decades of heroic efforts by Italian pro-life leaders who have actively opposed Bonino’s anti-life and anti-family actions. The U.S. Bishops highlight the problem in their 2004 document, Catholics in Political Life. “Our obligation as bishops at this time is to teach clearly,” they wrote, also saying they must warn and counsel politicians that by supporting abortion they are cooperating in evil. Moreover, they said that persistently pro-abortion politicians should not be honored by the Catholic community and by Catholic institutions. The bishops’ document directed that such politicians “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” When the Holy Father openly criticizes Donald Trump for building walls, thus criticizing his immigration policies, but then in the same press scrum says he won’t comment on Italy’s same-sex civil union legislation (“Because the pope is for everybody and he can’t insert himself in the specific internal politics of a country,” he argued), it makes many wonder about his priorities.
View attachment 6635 The Pope greeting Italy's top pro abortionist and Euthanasia advocate in the Vatican, smiles all round. Accompaniment.
This whole thing makes me ill. Really it does. So, the "accompaniment" of this ONE person is possibly leading literally thousands of people away from the constant teaching of the church. Of course, he says one thing with his words and another with his actions. So the confusion is sown. Am I reading this wrong? Seriously asking a question here. When I hear about all this and see our pope welcoming her and seeing the recent appointments to the Pontifical Academy for Life I get a sick feeling in my stomach. What is going on? It is mind boggling what is going on in our world. It's like a disease, a pandemic, that is spreading. Again, here is that false mercy that is sucking people down the rabbit hole to hell. Before Obama was president, I found myself becoming aware of really bad things happening to our country. Before then, I just floated along doing my own thing, not paying attention really. Then America elected Obama. And the ride began. I saw a steady decrease of morality and I was afraid of what our govt was doing. Now, don't get me wrong. America has been in decline for many years and I don't pin it on Obama. But it seemed to accelerate under his administration. I decided to pay attention but pulled myself into my faith. I stopped watching the news, except for EWTN. I got off social media. I started reading more, going to adoration, daily mass when I can. I felt the pull to just trust in our Lord because my govt and my country are immoral and turning against me as a practicing Catholic. And now my church is going through the same thing. There is literally corruption at the highest levels. Again, the corruption has been there for a long time but it has become evident that it is accelerating at a high pace. The proverbial rug is being pulled out from under me, from under us as faithful. The trust in "right thinking" is all but gone. I am fearful and get knots in my stomach almost everyday reading and hearing the news of our Church. So, what am I left with? Again, I am being pulled in the direction of complete trust in our Lord. I think that for me, our Lord is saying, only trust in me. I read John chapter 14 all the time as it gives me peace. Sorry for the long discourse. But these are my feelings. I can no longer do anything but trust in our Lord because it is folly to trust in things of our world. Jesus, I trust in you!
I think as the darkness intensifies we must more and more look to Our Lord and Our Blesssed Lady directly for guidance. We must also pray very much for Our Holy Father and the Church. All the more so as we see the darkness that has fallen upon his eyes. God have mercy.
I must say though that I would be very careful of people that , 'Defend', the Holy Father in everything he does and says at the present time, no matter how awful. Defending that which is evil is evil itself and much of what is going on is, frankly and obviously evil. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Fear not - God is just weeding His garden! Yes, Jesus I trust in You! Pray the prayer to Our Lady of America.
I am more and more understanding that Our Lady is going to be our "Ark" through all of this. I used to think that was just a nice title given to her, but now I am seeing that we may not have anyone else to rely on (except God of course). Who knows how low things will sink here on Earth? She will carry us through the storm to her Son. I think that is one of the main reasons for this Chastisement and why we are being stripped of everything. Of course it is due to sin, but I also think God wants us to be totally dependent on Him through His mother, like a drowning person in a storm tossed about and desperately clinging to a piece of floating wood.
The last couple of months I have attended a First Friday and First Saturday all-night vigil of reparation, organised by the Alliance of the Two Hearts, which begins at 8pm and ends at 3am. During the vigil I notice the light outside fading through the stained glass windows of the chapel and I think that what draws me back to this vigil each month, despite the difficulty involved and my being, let's say, rather fond of my bed , is the sense that it is a figurative reflection of what we need to be doing at this time, as the darkness descends on the world - nestling down quietly with the hearts of Jesus and Mary and keeping our eyes and hearts fixed firmly on theirs, staying awake and keeping watch with Jesus in the moments before the full force of the passion.
Yes , I am afraid prayer and sacrifice is all we have. It would be nice to belief if we protested or organized a petition someone somewhere would pay the least attention, but I am afraid there is no chance whatsoever. If we were Cardinals it might be different.
Yes Tanker I believe people are running along with the stampede into the pit instead of holding fast to to the holiness of our Lord and under the direction of our General in this war, Mary who is telling us to hold fast and steady in trust to her son. We are at war let us pray for due diligence and strength that is our motto.
Lynn, I'd like to believe that God is weeding His garden but what I see is that the weeds have literally chocked the life out of so many of the beautiful plants in the garden and these weeds are growing larger, stronger and multiplying each day! Yesterday I watched a number of Documentaries on the child sex abuse scandal within the church and it was absolutely heart wrenching! Many of these beautiful innocent young boys and girls that were disgustingly abused by so called priests of our Catholic church; had their lives destroyed, became drug addicts, became mentally ill, lost their marriages, got no justice in any court hearings, committed suicide and were paid off by the church to keep quite! And just think the families of these children, were good Catholics! Two of the families in one of the documentaries went to Mass regularly, said their prayers, trusted in God and His Catholic Church and had their young 11 year old sons training to be altar boys! One of the boys was very devout and wanted to be a priest but he was subjected to Father John Farrell in 1983 and his dreams were destroyed; like so many others in that town! However, the church knew of this priest’s crimes and sent Father John Farrell, anyway? to another location where in 1990 he again destroyed another 11 year old altar boys life as well as many others. Both these beautiful young boys committed suicide at the age of 28, after years of torment and trying to get their lives together! Damien died on the 01/01/2001 and Daniel died on the 25/11/2007. May they rest in Peace. Amen. In the documentaries there were numerous other suicides and horror stories. I trust in God and hope my prayers keep my children and grandchildren safe, just like the families of the children who were abused, trusted in God and hoped their prayers kept their children safe. Fat, strong and protected noxious weeds continue to proliferate and flourish in the garden.
Ta tanker I could have written this post. It is so similar to what I have thought and think and you express my own dismay and horror. Isn't there a psalm that says "not one is just--no not one" talking about corrupt nations. But the Church. It is devastating. Utterly devastating. But God permits it. We must just keep praying and interceding for every soul we can. There is a great winnowing taking place.
