I agree. Protestant ministers often have to send their parishioners to Catholic priests when their deliverance efforts fail. On some level they know the truth. We could title it "An Inconvenient Truth"
When these new rites were established it was only through then C. Ratzinger and C. Medina that the traditional prayers which would be, I would think, classified as those more potent exorcistic formula, were still permitted. Now it would appear that that special "life line" is being downplayed as having no greater effect. Fr. Amorth said that if that permission had not been included this new formula would be pretty useless. At that time Fr. Amorth and those who actually had the experience of exorcisms were forbidden from this "congress" that designed this new formula for the rite. He insisted that the original and traditional "more potent" forms had to be included because he saw the rest as rather feckless. (Interview below) A priest who had been at our parish knew the power of the traditional exorcism prayers when blessing certain sacramentals that required those and said how the demons stand and laugh at the either made up prayers by the priest or the weaker ones used these days. Later when I asked the new pastor of the parish who is a good priest to bless a Benedictine crucifix with the exorcism prayer required he looked at me like I was from outer space or something and said "I don't know what that is". I said "well, don't you have the book that includes those blessings?" and then he made up a prayer on the spot that was more directed against demons, etc. There is part of a talk given by Fr. Rodrigue where he speaks of either a possessed man or a man who was being attacked by demons who wanted Father to pray the exorcism prayers for him, and Father knew that the man needed to be released, but Father said that those rules about an exorcist being ordered to only do exorcisms within his own diocese where he had permission prevented him from doing so then and there which was outside of his diocese. He mentioned how Bishops even get into personal tug of wars over their personal jurisdictions over exorcists. When people asked him about the poor man involved he answered that God knew the man wanted help so He would direct him to another exorcist within that bishop's authority. What a simple and obedient faith! I don't know what people do in regions of the world where they see a priest maybe twice a year if that....and that priest may not be one of the "official" exorcists. Now today there is a rush to get more exorcists "trained" for particular areas of tremendous demonic activity while many Bishops don't even want to get involved out of fear and so the needs of the faithful go unanswered. Very interesting quote from Msgr. Esseff who at the time had been a priest for 63 years and an exorcist for the diocese for more than 40 years: “I’m hopeful bishops are becoming more aware of their role as the ‘chief exorcist’ for the diocese,” Msgr. Esseff said. “There is also still some resistance of the reality of Satan,” in the Church, among priests and bishops, he added, “as if there is just evil and not the devil.” “The only one that can overcome Satan is Jesus,” Msgr. Esseff said. “He overcomes the kingdom of evil with light. And every priest represents Jesus. The devil does not see the priest — he sees Jesus.” From the same article: A priest does not need a bishop’s permission to do minor exorcisms in situations where there is an evil influence, Bishop Paprocki explained. “It’s just a matter of praying to God to overcome evil influences.” “The reason a major exorcism needs a bishop’s permission is that the priest talks directly to the devil and commands him in the name of Jesus Christ to leave that person,” he said. “For the priest to be able to do that, he needs the authority of the Church behind him.” Father Lampert said that a priest, and even laypeople, can pray minor exorcism prayers because they address God. “The lay faithful should not give commands to demons,” he said. “Demons recognize the authority of bishops and the Church. If you claim authority on your own, it can get you into trouble,” he warned the laity. He referred to the example in Acts 19, when some Jewish exorcists tried to expel an evil spirit. The devil said: “Jesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?” Then he attacked them. “It’s not the exorcists that have the power,” Father Lampert said, “but the power and authority of the Church that comes from Jesus Christ. Catholics understand that individuals don’t have that power.” Now, back to Fr. Amorth's take on the New Ritual at the time of its creation from a 2000 interview with him....a portion: ......... And we exorcists, the ones who would have to use it, we took the opportunity to point out that, on a number of points, we were in disagreement with the New Ritual. But the underlying Latin text has remained the same in this revised translation. This long-awaited Ritual has turned into a farce. An incredible obstacle that is likely to prevent us acting against the demon. ....... Point 15 treats of evil spells and how one should behave when dealing with them. An evil spell is an evil brought about on a person by means of recourse to the devil. It can be accomplished under a variety of forms like spells, curses, the evil eye, voodoo and macumba. The Roman Ritual used to explain how one should confront it. The New Ritual on the other hand categorically declares that it is absolutely forbidden to perform exorcisms in such cases. Absurd. Evil spells are by far the most frequent causes of possessions and evil procured through the demon: at least 90% of cases. It is as good as telling exorcists they can no longer perform exorcisms. Then Point 16 solemnly declares that one should not carry out exorcisms if one is not certain of the presence of the devil. This is a masterstroke of incompetence: the certainty that the devil is present in someone can only be obtained by carrying out an exorcism. ........ The declarations contained in the New Ritual are very serious and very damaging. They are the fruit of ignorance and inexperience. 30 Days: But wasn't the New Ritual put together by specialists? Fr. Amorth: Not at all! During these last ten years, two commissions worked on the Ritual; one which was made up of cardinals and which was responsible for the Praenotanda, that is to say the initial provisions, and the other which was responsible for the prayers. I can affirm with certainty that none of the members of these commissions had ever performed an exorcism, had ever been present at an exorcism and ever possessed the slightest idea of what an exorcism is. Here lies the error, the original sin of this Ritual. Not one of those who collaborated on it was an exorcism specialist. 30 Days: How is that possible? Fr. Amorth: It is not me you should be asking. At the Vatican II Ecumenical Council, each commission was aided by a group of experts who assisted the bishops in their work. And this custom was kept up after the Council, every time that parts of the Ritual were redrafted. But not this time. And yet, if there were ever a subject that demanded the participation of specialists, it was truly this. .......... 30 Days: Does this mean then that, for you, the New Rite is unusable in the struggle against the demon? Fr. Amorth: Yes. They were looking to give us a blunt weapon. Efficacious prayers, prayers that had been in existence for twelve centuries, were suppressed and replaced by new ineffective prayers. But, as luck would have it, they threw us a lifeline at the last moment. 30 Days: What was that? Fr. Amorth: The new Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal Jorge Medina, attached to the Ritual a Notification in which he specified that exorcists were not obliged to use this Ritual and that, if they wished, they could ask their bishop for authorization to use the old one. The bishops must in their turn ask for authorization from the Congregation which, as the Cardinal writes, "willingly accords it". 30 Days: "Willingly accords it"? That is a very strange concession... Fr. Amorth: Do you want to know where it comes from? It comes from an attempt made by Cardinal Ratzinger, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and by Cardinal Medina to introduce into the Ritual an article - it was article 38 at that time - which would authorize exorcists to use the previous Ritual. It was undoubtedly a maneuver in extremis to fend off on our behalf the grave errors found in the definitive Ritual. But the two cardinals failed in their attempt. Then Cardinal Medina, who had understood what was at stake in this matter, decided to grant us this lifeline anyway and he added a separate note. MORE FROM THIS INTERVIEW: https://www.fisheaters.com/amorth.html
MCCARRICK REPORT IMMINENT? More at Link: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/mccarrick-report-imminent Secluded beach house scouted by William Mahoney, Ph.D. ChurchMilitant.com August 10, 2020 "The long-awaited McCarrick report will come out later this month, according to Cdl. Timothy Dolan of New York, who held a video conference for clergy last week. The Vatican announced two years ago it was preparing a report on the case of disgraced ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a notorious homosexual pederast whose misdeeds extended to bribery and political intrigue. A new lawsuit claims McCarrick ran a sex ring of teenage boys from his beach house in Sea Girt, New Jersey, and further alleges other clergy predators, who called McCarrick "the boss," procured boys for the sex ring. Church Militant was recently in Sea Girt, scouting the area to gain insights into the location of the notorious beach house. From the Sea Girt beach, overlooking the Atlantic, the beach house is five blocks away."
CHINA, VATICAN TO EXTEND CONTROVERSIAL DEAL Communist Party newspaper: 'Framework has worked well' by Jules Gomes • ChurchMilitant.com • August 5, 2020 "VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) - The Vatican is to renew its secret deal with China after negotiations on bishops' appointments proved that "the framework has worked well for the past two years," a Chinese Communist Party newspaper reported Wednesday. Global Times claimed Argentine bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo confirmed the renewal, saying "they are going to renew it, which means the initial experience went well." The bilateral secret agreement is due to expire Sept. 22. Sorondo, a philosopher, is current chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Formerly Excommunicated Bishop Leads Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu, vice chairman of the bishops' conference of the Catholic Church in China and bishop of the diocese of Mindong in China's Fujian province, told Global Times that both sides were optimistic about renewing the agreement and upgrading it from a temporary to a formal agreement. Zhan, one of the seven formerly excommunicated bishops ordained without papal approval — whom Pope Francis has readmitted to communion — said that the new development shows that both China and the Holy See were satisfied with the framework in the past two years, when at least two Chinese bishops were ordained by Pope Francis as a result of the agreement. Zhan is now fully recognized by the Chinese communist government as part of the provisional agreement, according to the Vatican's press office. "The agreement is a key link that secures China-Vatican ties and could help push ties to the next step," Zhan emphasized. Vatican expert Francesco Sisci, senior researcher at the Center of European Studies at the Renmin University of China also told the Global Times that the endurance of Rome's dialogue with Beijing in the face of escalating disputes between China and the United States proved that the Holy See could be a reliable partner and of importance for the communist giant. Warning: Don't Trust China Speaking to Church Militant, distinguished papal biographer and expert on communism Paul Kengor warned against any deal with communism. "The Chinese leadership are communists. This is the kind of thing that they engage in. Like communists in the Soviet Union, they engage in disinformation, misinformation and manipulation — and they likewise view the Vatican and religion generally as a foe," said Kengor, author of best-selling A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century." MORE AT LINK: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/china-vatican-to-extend-secret-deal
Not all that surprised anymore. Haugan may now regret his choice of collaborators! Sometimes, esp. these days, and esp. when reading more and more such articles, you are almost tempted to laugh at the naivety that was almost ordered to succumb to for far too long in the Church! Catholic Churches Drop Hymns After Accusations Against Composer David Haas, a composer known for “Blest Are They,” “We Are Called,” “You Are Mine” and other favorites, has been accused of sexual abuse and harassment by multiple women, an advocacy group says. David Haas performing at his “I Will Bring You Home” concert in Dayton, Ohio in March of 2019.Credit... Aimee Judy By Marie Fazio Aug. 10, 2020 Several Roman Catholic archdioceses have banned a well-known liturgical composer from performing in their churches and many others have stopped playing his music after dozens of women accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment over more than 40 years. The allegations against the composer, David Haas, 63, include harassment and cyberstalking, lewd propositions, forced kissing and groping, and other unwanted sexual behavior, according to accusations from 38 women compiled by Into Account, a survivor advocacy group. The New York Times interviewed six of the women. Many of the women were musicians or aspiring liturgical composers who considered Mr. Haas a mentor and said they feared professional retaliation if they spoke out earlier. One described him as a “rock star in the Catholic liturgical realm” who created his own rules. After multiple women approached Into Account with allegations, the organization emailed a letter to church leaders, publishers and some of his liturgical peers in May, said Stephanie Krehbiel, the group’s executive director, who added that women continued to come forward. MORE: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/...ml?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage https://www.facebook.com/SMMMHDH/?h...lx5X6e42BLDgC7c3W6Ffeay4efZDFwH5g&__tn__=kC-R
When I saw that article about the modern hymn writer being banned, it was very encouraging. I wish to God they would bring back the old loved and tested Roman Catholic hymns. Most of the modern hymns are boring, IMHO. Now and again there is a really good one it is true. Most of the modern hymns just seem to be an excuse for someone to make some money on writing for a captive audience. It seems like more for entertainment than devotion. Sadly. And no wonder if this so called talented pervert has such sway over what gets foisted on us Church goers.
Chinese Foreign Minister Arrives in Rome, Sparking Debate over Vatican-Beijing Deal https://www.breitbart.com/national-...me-sparking-debate-over-vatican-beijing-deal/
CELEBRATE LAUDATO SI Nero fiddled whilst Rome burned The only Global warming we are going to get is Fire From the Sky (Akita)
I just saw this post! I guess I should be used to this stuff by now, but I am continuously shocked by this behavior. Well, the Catholic 'rock star' has been exposed. I'm sure this was common knowledge, and we were the last to know. UGH.
As a choir member, I know Music Directors are in charge of the music they order. I don't know if their priest needs to approve in any circumstance.
Wonder what he thinks of the "environment" of the Democratic left run cities that have been burned to a pulp. Or the human life in these places that has had their means of providing for family and community.....as well as some lives ended....go up in smoke or just demolished by the hands of those who don't seem to respect any "environment"??? Pope Francis: Planet in ‘Catastrophic’ State Due to ‘Environmental Disorders’ ROME — Pope Francis thanked a group of French ecologists in the Vatican Thursday for their efforts to “save the environment,” which is undergoing a “disturbing degradation.” “While the state of the planet may seem catastrophic and some situations even seem irreversible, we Christians always keep hope, because our eyes are turned to Jesus Christ,” the pope told the group of participants in an academic conference devoted to his 2015 encyclical letter on the environment, Laudato Sì. Mistreating the world “can only lead to serious consequences, not only environmental, but also social and human,” Francis told them. “It is fortunate that an awareness of the urgency of the situation is now appearing everywhere and that the theme of ecology more and more permeates mentalities at all levels and begins to have an influence on political and economic choices,” the pontiff declared, “even if there is still much to do and if we are witnessing too much slowness and even backtracking.” The pope said that the role of the Catholic church in the environmental cause is not technical or economic, but consists in “educating consciences to promote a deep and lasting ecological conversion.” An ecological conversion, he reiterated, is “the only one capable of responding to the important challenges facing us.” Man is called to be a steward of creation, not “the owner or the despot,” Francis said. “When one considers nature only as an object of profit and interest — a vision that consolidates the will of the strongest — then harmony is broken and serious inequalities, injustices, and suffering appear.” It is the “same indifference, the same selfishness, the same greed, the same pride, the same pretension of believing oneself the master and the despot of the world,” Francis said, that leads people “to exploit poverty, abuse the work of women and children, overturn the laws of the family unit, and no longer respect the human right to life from conception to natural death.” In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Tuesday, the pope restated his belief that humanity is “in the midst of a climate emergency,” and, therefore, “climate restoration is of utmost importance” “We are running out of time, as our children and young people have reminded us,” he declared. “We need to do everything in our capacity to limit global average temperature rise under the threshold of 1.5°C enshrined in the Paris Climate Agreement, for going beyond that will prove catastrophic.” https://www.breitbart.com/national-...t-catastrophic-state-environmental-disorders/
Someone needs to inform the lost soul that there can be no such thing. Jesuit Priest Thomas Reese Stumps for ‘Catholics for Biden’ Prominent Jesuit Father Thomas Reese has taken to Twitter to promote the national kick-off of Catholics for Biden, a “grassroots” group promoting the Democrat ticket in November. The virtual launch of Catholics for Biden will take place Friday, September 4 and will feature prominent progressive Catholics such as Senator Dick Durbin, Sister Simone Campbell, Dr. Stephen Schneck, Dr. Polly Baca, Felice Gorordo, Tim Shriver Jr., Ana Sofia Pelaez, Peter Kellner, and others. The event aims to help participants “engage Catholic voters” and whip up enthusiasm for the Biden-Harris ticket. Last Thursday, Father Reese published an essay insisting that it is acceptable for Catholics to vote for Catholic candidates who openly support abortion on demand. The former editor-in-chief of America magazine declared that “a Catholic Democrat can vote for Biden, even if his policies promote abortions and gay marriage, as long as the voter’s intent is not to support those positions.” “A Catholic Democrat might feel impelled to vote for Biden despite his position on abortion and gay marriage because of other morally grave reasons, for example, his positions on racism, immigration, global warming and COVID-19,” Reese argued. Father Reese confessed that “most Catholic Democrats agree with Biden that abortion should be legal” anyway, which removes any moral obstacle for supporting him. In their teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics called Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops underscore the gravity of abortion, which they describe as the “preeminent” issue for Catholic voters. “The threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed,” the bishops declare. Last week, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley issued a statement reiterating the Catholic Church’s position on abortion after one of his priests came out as pro-choice on Facebook this week. In his statement, O’Malley said that the Catholic community “has the right to expect the priests of the Archdiocese and those entrusted with handing on the faith to be clear and unequivocal on the Church’s teaching concerning respect and protection for life from the first moment of conception to natural death.” “This teaching is of the highest priority for the Church,” he added. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” Abortion “is gravely contrary to the moral law,” the Catechism declares, and, therefore, a person who procures an abortion incurs excommunication from the Church “by the very commission of the offense.” Throughout his campaign, Joe Biden has reiterated his support for abortion on demand and has promised to work to repeal the Hyde and Helms Amendments that protect taxpayers from having to finance abortions. Last June, Democrat candidate Joe Biden appeared in a Planned Parenthood advertisement promising to do “everything in [his] power” to defend abortion rights. Mr. Biden’s overt support for abortion has led several bishops to publicly question his standing as a Roman Catholic. The Catholic News Agency (CNA) ran an article demonstrating that the Democratic platform for the upcoming elections runs counter to Catholic teaching on virtually every point. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...-thomas-reese-stumps-for-catholics-for-biden/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ and pertaining to same: Resurfaced Tweets Put Kamala Harris’ Disturbing Agenda On Full Display https://lifeandlibertynews.com/2020...ala-harris-disturbing-agenda-on-full-display/
Prayers working?? Pope Francis says Amazon synod was for discernment, not fighting on married priests CNA Staff, Sep 3, 2020 / 12:45 pm MT (CNA).- Pope Francis did not approve a proposal to ordain married men in the Amazon region because the idea was discussed, and even argued about, but not prayerfully discerned at a 2019 synod of bishops, according to notes from the pope included in an article published Thursday in the Catholic periodical La Civiltà Cattolica. “There was a discussion ... a rich discussion ... a well-founded discussion, but no discernment, which is something different than just arriving at a good and justified consensus or at a relative majority,” Pope Francis said, on the issue of addressing a priest shortage in the Amazon by ordaining so-called viri probati, or older, mature and married men from local communities. The pope clarified that synods of bishops should be opportunities for prayerful reflection, not parliamentary lobbying. Pope Francis explained that a synod of bishops is a “spiritual exercise,” a period for discernment of how the Holy Spirit is speaking, and for self-examination regarding the motive beyond positions. “Walking together means dedicating time to honest listening, capable of making us reveal and unmask (or at least to be sincere) the apparent purity of our positions and to help us discern the wheat that - up to the Parousia - always grows among the weeds.” “Whoever has not realized this evangelical vision of reality exposes themselves to useless bitterness. Sincere and prayerful listening shows us the 'hidden agendas' called to conversion,” the pope added. The October 2019 Synod of Bishops on the Pan-Amazon Region was a gathering of bishops from the region, and from other parts of the world, who met to discuss pastoral strategies for evangelization, catechesis, and pastoral care in the region, which spans several South American countries, and is beset by social, economic, and environmental challenges. Some bishops at the synod proposed that Francis should permit the ordination of married men to the priesthood to address a regional shortage of priests. Critics of the idea said it would undermine the Church’s understanding of clerical celibacy as a gift, would become a widespread demand in the Church, and would not effectively resolve the clerical shortage in the Amazon. In his Feb. 12 exhortation Querida Amazonia, which responded to the synod’s discussion on the region, Pope Francis did not endorse the proposal for the ordination of married men. Instead, the urgent need for priests in the region “leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region,” he wrote. In his remarks published this week, the pope emphasized that continued discernment is needed to implement the vision laid out in his exhortation. "I like to think that, in a certain sense, the synod is not over. This time of welcoming the whole process that we have lived challenges us to continue walking together and to put this experience into practice." Pope Francis was criticized in some quarters for his decision not to approve viri probati, despite support for the proposal from the bishops at the synod. Church historian Massimo Faggioli wrote in Commonweal that “what we see with Querida Amazonia might suggest a betrayal of the Amazon Synod at least in terms of what it means for institutional Church reforms.” But in his recently published note, Francis emphasized that a synod is not a legislative body, looking only for majority approval on proposals. “We must understand that the synod is more than a parliament; and in this specific case it could not escape that [parliamentary] dynamic. On this issue it was a rich, productive and even necessary parliament; but no more than that. To me, this was decisive in the final discernment, when I thought about how to do the exhortation." “One of the riches and originality of the synodal pedagogy lies precisely in going out of a parliamentary logic to learn to listen, in community, to what the Spirit says to the Church; for this reason I always propose to remain silent after a certain number of interventions,” the pope added. “What sense would the synodal assembly have if it were not for listening together to what the Spirit says to the Church?" Pope Francis asked. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...ernment-not-fighting-on-married-priests-63363
Very strange & perhaps telling, last night I dreamt I was a novitiate for the priesthood, wearing a half collar. I had a desk in what looked like a seminary office? I was congratulated by a number of people including my music director. In the dream knew it was weird and not right.
Misinterpreted?! Pope’s New Encyclical to Praise Jihad Terror Supporter as Example of ‘Peace’ and ‘Fraternity’ https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/vatican-confirms-popes-all-brothers-encyclical
But what does he mean by "gossip"? Always vague? But not so vague about those leaders he criticizes (gossips?) who desire law and order, who protect the lives of children, or who are exposing the evils of the world systems??? Pope: Gossiping is “plague worse than COVID” https://apnews.com/c7def9fc45b8bb1df8efed8bb7ca57b1
