Theologian criticized in Benedict’s letter had ‘seismic’ influence on Amoris Laetitia: report Dorothy Cummings McLean Tue Mar 27, 2018 https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/t...icts-letter-had-seismic-influence-on-amoris-l amoris laetitia , casti connubii , catholic , humanae vitae , indissolubility , lettergate , peter hunermann , pope benedict , pope francis Peter Hünermann giving a lecture in 2014. Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Vallendar / Youtube March 27, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – The theologian criticized by Pope Emeritus Benedict in his recent controversy-causing letter to the head of Vatican communications is a major influence on Pope Francis’s theology of marriage. German theologian Peter Hünermann, 89, was mentioned by name in Benedict’s letter, which was on the topic of an 11-volume series on Pope Francis’ theology which Benedict declined to read. The Pope Emeritus expressed surprise that Hünermann had been asked to write a volume. This section of the letter was originally omitted from the public by the Vatican. Hünermann had led “anti-papal initiatives,” Benedict stated in his letter, and “virulently attacked the magisterial authority of the Pope [John Paul II], especially on questions of moral theology.” “Additionally, the ‘Europäische Theologengesellschaft’ [European Society of Catholic Theology], which he founded, was initially conceived by him as an organization in opposition to the papal magisterium. Later, the ecclesial sense of many theologians blocked this orientation, making that organization a normal instrument of encounter among theologians,” Benedict added. Hünermann revealed in a 2016 interview with Commonweal his connection to and influence on Pope Francis. The theologian's relationship with Jorge Bergoglio goes back to 1968. In the same interview, Hünermann mentioned a private meeting with the Pope in May 2015 that, in the words of the interviewer, “influenced the Apostolic Exhortation” Amoris Laetitia. Kaplan wrote that Hünermann, largely unnoticed by the English-speaking world, “exercised a seismic theological impact that stretches all the way to Francis’s much-debated Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia.” “It is Hünermann’s work that has helped provided a theological justification for [Francis’s] insistence that the sacrament of marriage be understood in less legalistic terms,” Kaplan wrote. “According to Hünermann, certain medieval reflections on the theology of marriage recognized that not all sacramental marriages were indissoluble in the way that indissolubility came to be understood in the modern period.” Hünermann said that some “situations” make it “impossible” for certain marriages to “continue.” “But if indissolubility refers to the nature of marriage, it is quite clear that [due to a failure of human cooperation] it can break down. Situations can arise where it is impossible to continue in marriage. If there are children and so on, one has to deal with the individual situation and attempt to find a pastoral solution,” he told Commonweal. He would like to see the Church reclaim this understanding. Hünermann is both a graduate and a professor emeritus of Tübingen University in Germany, an establishment with which the more famous names of Hans Kung, Walter Kasper, and Joseph Ratzinger are associated. As a seminarian in the 1950s, Hünermann was fascinated by Kant, Heidegger, and Hegel and supplemented his studies of neo-scholastic philosophy with their works. When he began to study theology, he concentrated on the early figures of the “Tübingen School,” admiring their approach to problems in modern theology. He later studied in Freiburg with Bernhald Welte, a fellow devotee of Heidegger, who became his mentor. Hünermann in Argentina According to Hünermann as reported in Commonweal, many Latin Americans studied at Freiburg in the 1960s, and so Welte was invited to lecture in Chile and Argentina. When the older man returned, he said that German theologians should have more influence in Latin America. “It was important that we go there to balance out not only the neo-scholasticism, but also the positivistic thinking that filtered down from the United States,” Hunermann told Kaplan. Therefore, the German theologians set up an exchange program. Hünermann learned Spanish and went to Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, Santiago and Valparaiso to teach. The program still exists throughout South America. In 1968 Hünermann met Jorge Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis. “I used to stay in the Jesuit seminary residence when I taught in Buenos Aires,” the German told Kaplan. [Father Bergoglio] directed the novitiate and later became provincial. Over this period I saw him almost once per year. He manifested a certain spiritual distance, which struck me.” Father Bergoglio, whom Hunermann believed shared his own antipathy for Argentinian dictator General Perón, made so much of an impression on the German scholar that in 2005 the latter said he hoped the former would be elected Pope. When Cardinal Bergoglio was elected Pope eight years later in 2013, Hünermann’s Latin American colleagues had inside connections to set up a meeting between the theologian and the new Pope. Casti Connubii ‘too narrow’ Hünermann sent Francis a paper on his own theology of marriage, apparently at Francis’s behest, reported Commonweal. It included his sharp critique of the most important papal encyclical about marriage of the pre-conciliar period, Casti connubii (1930). The document, promulgated by Pope Pius XI, was a direct response to the Anglican Lambeth Conference which used the argument of hard “cases” to “limit or avoid parenthood” by “contraception control.” Pope Pius XI lambasted the decision, describing it as “openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition” for “another doctrine” which constitutes “moral ruin.” He upheld Catholic teaching against frustrating the natural end of the sexual act, writing: “any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.” Hünermann told Commonweal that the encyclical was based on the work of a Jesuit moral theologian named Franz Hürth, one of Hünermann’s professors in Rome. But the former student was critical of his teacher’s work. “Hürth’s standpoint came from canon law and moral theology, and was not informed by systematic theology. One upshot was a narrow understanding of what it meant for a sacrament to be a sacrament,” Hünermann said. “The document was too narrow for the beginning, and could not deal satisfactorily with the complexities of the situation we face today.” Dr. Christian Brugger, author of The Indissolubility of Marriage and the Council of Trent, told LifeSiteNews that Hünermann “misconstrues” doctrinal teaching on the nature of marriage. “It is not Casti Connubii, but Peter Hünermann that misconstrues the Catholic Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage, “ Brugger said. “The Catholic Church has taught since the time of the apostles that consummated Christian marriages are absolutely indissoluble.” “Therefore, although there can be a separation of habitation, there cannot—not should not, but CANNOT—be a separation of the bond. Therefore, pastoral solutions that suggest that there can be are contrary to Catholic faith and morality,” he said. Elsewhere in the Commonweal interview Hünermann, when asked about the possibility of women deacons in the Roman Church, replied that the topic was “of great importance to me for over forty years.” “I think the women diaconate would be a great step toward integrating women sacramentally into the service that they already do,” he said.
Bishop promoted by Francis: ‘Remarried’ couples must have sex to be ‘family’ Matthew Cullinan Hoffman Wed Mar 28, 2018 https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/b...-remarried-couples-must-have-sex-to-be-family adultery , amoris laetitia , catholic , manuel linda , pope francis , portugal , remarried and divorced catholics Bishop Manuel Linda Jornal de Notîces / video screen-grab March 28, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – The newly-installed bishop of the Portuguese city of Porto, Manuel Linda, appeared to reject the Catholic doctrine that divorced and invalidly remarried Catholics should abstain from sexual intercourse. He stated in a recent interview, “I’m convinced that it isn’t really a family” if they do so. “I know that there are some remarried couples, who were previously in a canonical marriage and who later reconstructed their lives and are in another marriage that is not canonical, who for motives of faith and of interior conviction and of conscience, in fact live in sexual abstinence. But we have to ask ourselves: is that itself a family?” Linda told the Observador (Observer), a Portuguese newspaper. “I’m convinced that it isn’t really a family,” Linda continued. “It’s one thing to have a living arrangement like I have here in the house with other people, but we’re not a family. It’s another thing to be a family. Therefore, I would not insist much on this matter of de facto sexual abstinence.” The bishop’s statements were made in response to a recent declaration of the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, who states that it is proper to “propose” to divorced and invalidly remarried couples the possibility of “continence” (sexual abstinence) in their relationship so as to avoid the evil of adultery. Clemente has been pilloried in Portugal for even wishing to propose the idea, particularly by dissenting Catholic priests. Linda’s statements appear to represent an apparent rejection of the Catholic Church’s perennial condemnation of adultery, a condemnation that is expressly and repeatedly contained in Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Linda told the Observador that he regarded the pope’s decision to appoint him to the Diocese of Porto as one that could not be refused, because the pope had a “personal” interest in his name for the position. “There is a series of indications in which I note that the pope was very interested, in a personal way, in my name,” Linda said. “When that happens, one cannot say ‘no’ to a friend.” Asked if he would continue to raise his voice against abortion, as he did in an article criticizing the Portuguese parliament in 2015, as well as on issues such as euthanasia, Linda said that he didn’t intend to be combative, but rather to “propose” to those who listen to him. “If we go through life denouncing everything, speaking ill of everything, we . . . don’t have credibility any more,” said Linda. “Therefore, it shouldn’t be expected of me that I will go through life speaking ill of society, of proposals that are made by political parties or other sectors of the culture or of the society, which perhaps clash with my doctrinal assumptions.” “Our mission isn’t so much to defy, to denounce. It is to propose,” Linda continued. “Sure, in the proposal of doctrine I will be irrecusable. I will seek to propose my doctrine to Christians and to other people who want to listen. But it is one thing to propose, another thing to go through life denouncing.” However, he added that “on issues like abortion or euthanasia, I am absolutely against [such practices], absolutely against.” Linda was also asked by the Observer if he has taken on the style of Pope Francis. He exclaimed, “Two hundred percent! Completely, completely.” Asked why, the bishop responded, “The pastoral care of the Church, the announcement that we must make, is not a technique, it isn’t a wisdom, it isn’t a skill like the televangelists who, with no lack of effort on their part, use an eloquent discourse convinced that they will captivate many people that way, and perhaps will do so.” “No. Our pastoral care is a presence, a fermenting presence. There is no other key to open the human heart other than sympathy, cordiality, affectivity, or for us to be at the same level [as the other person]. If we place ourselves on a different level, our voice isn’t heard, nor do others want to listen to it.”
The whole point of Christ's words in the Gospels is that such couples, while their spouse(s) still live, can never be families.
This heretic's 'logic' implies that full evangelisation will occur when there are no more Catholics. This is the kind of insanity one wades into when abandoning Truth. Meanwhile, the chaos of this papacy grows and grows, as Faith and Reason, the twin foundations of Catholicism, are increasingly rejected. If 'extreme cases' represent justification for murder, what moral objection can there be to, for example, murdering this extremist?
How long can this go on? Where are all of the bishops and cardinals when they should be speaking out? The Church is the Bride of Christ and it is now committing adultery with the world.
Imagine what the Priests are going through. Those that honor the Traditional teachings of the Church it is hard to imagine what they are experiencing. I imagine for many it must be a crisis of faith. I think also though it comes back to trusting God and being obedient. It reminds me too of all the warnings and dreams that Bruno had all the way until the time of his death with the persecutions.. God have Mercy on us.
‘According to Duigou the Pope responded: “Yes, because to bless means that God thinks well of people and that God thinks well of all people.”’ Did John the Baptist bless Herod and his wife Herodías? Not only he did not bless them, he rebuked them saying “it is not lawful for you to have her”. This simple truth is what I would hope and pray the pope, a bishop or a priest will tell a homosexual couple, or a couple of remarried divorces, because that is the truth that heals the heart by revealing the sin in us and moving to repentance. There are certainly many ways of saying it, appropriate to each situation, but it has to be said, and a ‘blesing’ certainly doesn’t seem the way - it will actually lead many more souls into confusion, it is extremly disorienting...
It reminds me of this interview too: The interview digresses here from the topic of Fatima, but Zavala returns to it again later: “Forgive me for insisting on the Third Secret of Fatima: Did Padre Pio relate it, then, to the loss of faith within the Church?” Fr. Gabriele Amorth furrows his brow and sticks out his chin. He seems very affected. “Indeed,” he states, “One day Padre Pio said to me very sorrowfully: ‘You know, Gabriele? It is Satan who has been introduced into the bosom of the Church and within a very short time will come to rule a false Church.’” “Oh my God! Some kind of Antichrist! When did he prophesy this to you?” I [Zavala] ask. “It must have been about 1960, since I was already a priest then.” “Was that why John XXIII had such a panic about publishing the Third Secret of Fatima, so that the people wouldn’t think that he was the anti-pope or whatever it was …?” A slight but knowing smile curls the lips of Father Amorth. “Did Padre Pio say anything else to you about future catastrophes: earthquakes, floods, wars, epidemics, hunger …? Did he allude to the same plagues prophesied in the Holy Scriptures?” [asks Mr. Zavala] “Nothing of the sort mattered to him, however terrifying they proved to be, except for the great apostasy within the Church. This was the issue that really tormented him and for which he prayed and offered a great part of his suffering, crucified out of love.” [says Fr. Amorth] “The Third Secret of Fatima?” “Exactly.” https://onepeterfive.com/chief-exorcist-father-amorth-padre-pio-knew-the-third-secret/
A little OT reading will sort things right out as to how God considers such things. It is one of the basic works of Mercy to admonish the sinner. But, who am I to judge. Now though, the laws are changed and blessing is good, so that we may all pretend that God thinks well of all people. I wonder what the Canaanites would say to that. Maybe the story of king Saul and the Amalekites should be ignored now as well?
Is it time to start asking what ... EXACTLY!!!... is The Deal with Pope Benedict!!?? He has been retired for over ... FIVE YEARS!!! ... At the time of his resignation there were all kinds of rumors of illness and near-death scenarios. Did he, in fact, lose his "Crown" to the Wolves he spoke of in his inauguration? https://akacatholic.com/the-wolves/ Is he being held as a virtual prisoner in the Vatican? .... not able to live out his years with his elder priest brother in Germany and having his every move monitored by ..???? ... it's sad to think that Enquiring Minds would even consider this ... but ... These Days... "Pope visits retired pontiff after doctored letter scandal" https://www.fox23.com/news/world/pope-visits-retired-pontiff-after-doctored-letter-scandal/722600193 GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
How to write nice things about a Pope http://ecclesandbosco.blogspot.ie/2018/03/how-to-write-nice-things-about-pope.html This is an instalment in our self-help guide "How to be a good pope", but is really intended for retired popes rather than ones still poping. It may happen to you that after a few years as the world's holiest person you will decide to retire, in order to spend more time in prayer, contemplation, beer-drinking, piano-playing, reading the Eccles blog, and other activities suitable to your advanced years. "That's three heresies already, and I only opened it for the weather forecast." Very good. The chap currently doing all the nitty-gritty pope stuff, such as writing ambiguous exhortations, insulting the ordinary Catholic, and praising Emma Bonino, should be left to tread his infallible path, now that you have decided to be fallible again. But, horror! One day a pile of junk mail comes through your letter-box. It consists of a set of eleven slim volumes explaining the theology of your successor. What is worse, they want you to write something saying how wonderful it is. Life is so dreadfully unfair. If the publishers had sent you Fifty more shades of grey, you could have sent it back saying that you only ever wore white; or if it was Building a bridge, you could have passed it on to some engineering friend. But theology is your thing, and you have to respond to the request. "There are many books that I shall never read, but these are the best." Now, if all they want is a snappy headline for their publicity, then, whatever you write, they will be able to extract a phrase and blur the remainder. Your carefully-chosen words "When people describe Pope Bosco [your successor] as a brilliant theologian, my head begins to overheat" will be boiled down to "A BRILLIANT THEOLOGIAN", with the rest carefully obliterated. Likewise, "Read these books? I'd rather watch the grass grow" will be edited into "READ THESE BOOKS". Then again, "I'm 90 years old, and they think I can find nothing better to do" will become "I CAN FIND NOTHING BETTER". The moral is clear: write what you like about these books, and leave it to the boys at the Vatican to spin it whichever way they want.
I can't remember, was it a 'blessing' that God sent down upon Sodom and Gomorrah (not that it matters-that was a long time ago and we have a new paradigm now)?
Eccles is most astute and always hilarious. I don't know how he can keep coming up with this stuff-most top professional comedians are backed by entire teams of script-writers and still aren't funny.
Don, I couldn't remember when Bruno Cornacchiola died so I looked it up. He died on "June 22, 2001: Bruno Cornacchiola died Friday, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at 12 noon." http://miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/approved_apparitions/trefontane/index.html These recent stories reminded me of Bruno's visions also especially the discussion of the cassock in a few of the stories. On August 15, 1949, Our Lady of Revelation stated the following to Bruno among many other things, "Do not get undress of the priestly robe: the priest cassock calls to attention, it is a heavenly sign" http://www.jesusmariasite.org/globa...asy-invasion-of-italy-destruction-in-vatican/ It is shocking looking at the way this French priest, Father Daniel Duigou, is dressed in the photo above with Pope Francis. The following is from the article above, The interviewer then told Father Duigou that his own grand-uncle was a “traditionalist” priest with “cassock” and all. The interviewer said that his ordained grand-uncle would likely accuse Duigou of betraying the Church. Duigou, when asked how he would respond to such a claim, replied: “I would say that he lives in the 19th century, and not in the 21st.” Duigou said the Church is engaged in an evolution that one should not fear. “One has to open oneself,” he added. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/french-priest-pope-francis-approved-my-blessing-of-homosexual-cou A lot of what is occurring now reminds me of when I was in grammar school, a Catholic school, in the 1970's and the changes that were occurring at that time. Imho the difference is that many of the priests and nuns who were going through a sort of crisis eventually left their vocations rather than stay and not be true to their vocations. Now, many are staying in their vocation and ultimately they appear to be trying to destroy the Faith.
At the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, the Pope said priests should not 'idolise' Church law http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/03/29/pope-francis-urges-priests-be-close-to-sinners/
Yes me too Carol. My step father left seminary back in the mid 60's due to this. Then he went to Vietnam. I am glad to say that our Parish Priest wears the cassock regularly. That was a bit of a surprise when I first started attending, I had been going to a much more modern Church prior and never seen the Priest there wearing one. I think much of this all comes back to our Priests. We need to pray and sacrifice for them regularly just as was told to us by Our Lady of Revelation. I started listening to that series on Sensus again yesterday in fact. What an incredible resource it is for good traditional teaching.
I don’t even know where to go with this! Ralph Martin said that today the message is “the road to heaven is wide and everyone is going there. The road to hell is narrow and no one is going there.” Then he says “that is NOT what Jesus says. That is NOT what scripture says!!!” The road to heaven is narrow and few there are who find it. Strive to enter by the narrow gate.... just please God have mercy on your people.
