No, he wasn’t calling on them to convert…
“Pope” Francis says he used to Preach at Presbyterian Church in Buenos Aires
Yesterday, June 2, “Pope” Francis (Jorge Bergoglio) concluded his latest blather tour, which took him to the Eastern European nation of Romania. As always, he gave a press conference on the return flight to Rome, in which he made a number of outrageous and eyebrow-raising statements. Catholic News Agency has provided a full transcript in English, although one must say the translation leaves a bit to be desired:
The false pope took the opportunity to engage in some cheap 1960s’ polemics against the traditionalists in his sect — the usual “museum” talk, but this time sprinkled with “ashes”:
When I hear [Benedict XVI] speak, I become strong. I hear this history of the Church, which is not something like a museum, tradition. No, tradition is like a root which gives us the juice to grow and so you would become like roots, no! You flower, you grow, you give fruit, and you are the seeds that are the roots of the other. The tradition of the Church is always in motion.
In an interview made by Andrea Monda in L’Osservatore Romano a few days ago (do you read L’Osservatore Romano?) there was a situation of the musician Gustav Mahler that I liked so much. Speaking of tradition, he said that tradition is the guarantee of the future and not the keeper of ashes. It is not a museum. Tradition does not preserve ashes; the nostalgia of fundamentalists [is] to return to the ashes. No, tradition is the roots that guarantee the tree grows, flowers and gives fruit. I repeat with that piece by the Argentine poet I like so much: “All that the tree has in bloom comes from that which it has underground.”
Francis’ entire theology consists of metaphors, sentimental greeting-card platitudes, modern psychology, and Judeo-Marxist ideology. There is no sense in dignifying this contemptuous drivel with a reasoned response.
For a quick review of what Tradition actually is, let’s move beyond metaphors and slogans and turn to an actual definition:
TRADITION (Lat. traditio, a giving-up, delivery). The sum of revealed doctrine which has not been committed to sacred Scripture (though it may have appeared in uninspired writing) but which has been handed down by a series of legitimate shepherds of the Church from age to age. As revelation it must have come to the Apostles directly from the lips of Christ or been handed down by the Apostles at the dictation of the Holy Ghost. More broadly the term is used for the sum of doctrine revealed either in Scripture or by word of mouth; so in 2 Thess. ii, 14: “Hold by the traditions you have learned, in word or in writing, from us.”
(Donald Attwater, ed., A Catholic Dictionary, 3rd. ed. [New York, NY: Macmillan Co., 1958], s.v. “Tradition”)
Ironically, it is precisely the kind of theology that Francis subscribes to and promotes that has turned churches into mere museums — or worse — and confessionals into broom closets, as the people see no point in staying in the “Catholic Church” if it’s basically the Green Party at Prayer, and with bad liturgy to boot.
The most significant remarks in yesterday’s press conference, however, were probably Francis’ words on ecumenism. Drawing on a familiar theme, the Jesuit apostate said:
I always have this idea: Ecumenism is not reaching the end of the game, of the discussion. Ecumenism is walking together, walking together, praying together… The ecumenism of prayer. In history, we have the ecumenism of blood. When they killed Christians they did not ask: Are you Catholic? Are you Orthodox? Are you Lutheran? No, [they asked] are you Christian! And the blood mixed together. It is the ecumenism of witness. Another ecumenism, of prayer, of blood… and then the ecumenism of the poor, those that work together. That we must work to help the sick, the inferm [sic], for example, the people that are a little at the margin, below the poverty line, to help. “Matthew 25” is a beautiful ecumenical program, it comes from Jesus. To walk together: this is already Christian unity, but do not wait for theologians to agree to arrive at communion. Communion happens every day with prayer, with the memory of our martyrs, with works of charity and even of loving one another.
There is so much wrong with this, it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve talked about this before, so we won’t flesh it out too much, but this is just more of the same claptrap the world has been hearing for the last 50 years with nothing substantial (nothing good, that is) to show for it.
We recall how in early 2017, the Vatican’s official in charge of ecumenical relations, “Cardinal” Kurt Koch, had to admit that after all these decades of endless dialogue, the different parties are now at a point where they cannot even agree on why they’re dialoguing in the first place:
But, not to worry! Francis assures his hapless adherents that it’s not about the goal anyway — the way is the destination, you know. And besides, there’s that “ecumenism of blood”, you see, where “they” — notice he didn’t mention who! — don’t ask if the people they encounter are Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, or whatever. That’s true. They probably don’t ask if they’re “Christian” either, but only if they’re Muslim, followers of the religion of peace. And if not, off with their heads! Looks like Francis will soon discover an ecumenism with everyone who isn’t Muslim, including atheists, Zoroastrians, Jainists, Jews, Wiccans, Voodoo witchdoctors, Planned Parenthood and sodomy supporters, and so many more. Call it “dynamic ecumenism”! Yes, logic is a cruel thing when applied to the Vatican II religion.
We have exposed the heretical nature of Francis’ “ecumenism of blood” before:
Ah, but there’s always the “ecumenism of the poor”, the “ecumenism of charity” and all that, right? Everyone walking and working together to help the needy — doesn’t it just sound so pretty? It sounds nice perhaps, but the Vatican has yet to explain what should be so incredibly pleasing to God about a Catholic handing out meals at the local soup kitchen together with a lesbian pro-abort Methodist pastor, rather than separated from her. Just saying.
So, no, Matthew 25 is most definitely not a “beautiful ecumenical program” from Christ. It is a mandate to practice the corporal works of mercy, not to hijack works of charity to promote the heresy of indifferentism and give an illusion of unity between Christ and the devil. It is the old Modernist Bergoglio who is reading ecumenism into it.
And so Francis pretends that there is real and meaningful unity already in existence between Catholics and other “Christians” (they are properly called heretics, by the way, insofar as they adhere to heretical sects, regardless of whether they are personally guilty of the sin of heresy or not). For Bergoglio, actual unity of Faith, government, and worship — which can only be had in the Catholic Church — are mere accidents that are not that important because if one of “them” kills you and he doesn’t care if he kills a heretic or a Catholic, then what does the truth of Christ matter! That’s the stuff for “theologians” to worry about, a merely academic question, the theological equivalent of a squabble about proper punctuation in a bestseller. That must be why the Council of Florence taught:
It [the council] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.
(Council of Florence, Decree Cantate Domino; Denz. 714)
So much for that ecumenism of blood — or of any other kind. But here we’re just quoting that old “museum”, so… move along, nothing to see here! The dynamic Frankster and his god of surprises have long moved on to a more “enlightened” age….
The Bergoglian words of wisdom continue, and now it gets really good (and a bad translation isn’t helping):
In one European city there is a good relationship between the Catholic archbishop and the Lutheran archbishop. [Once] the Catholic archbishop should have come to the Vatican Sunday evening and he called to say that he would arrive Monday morning. When he arrived he told me: “Sorry, but yesterday the Lutheran archbishop should have gone to one of their meetings and he asked me to please go to his cathedral and lead the worship.” This is fraternity, to arrive to this much… and the Catholic bishop held the service. He did not do the Eucharist, but the service. This is…
When I was in Buenos Aires I was invited by the [Presbyterian] Scottish Church to preach a few times, and I went there to hold the service… you can walk together… unity, brotherhood, outstretched hand, be careful not to talk about others. We all have faults, everyone, if we walk together we leave faults aside, the criticisms of a scapegoater [zitellone].
(underlining added)
The translation provided by Catholic News Agency is not quite accurate here, although what remains after correction is still absurd enough.
Assuming that the original Italian provided by the Vatican is a faithful transcription of Francis’ words, we have to say that what Catholic News Agency has rendered as “hold the service”, etc., actually merely talks about preaching, that is, delivering the sermon.
Although the unnamed “Catholic bishop” was invited by the Lutheran minister to lead the service, he “only” gave the sermon: “E la predica l’ha fatta il cattolico. Non ha fatto l’Eucaristia, ma la predica sì.” With regard to what he himself did in his Buenos Aires days, Bergoglio actually said: “I used to go there and deliver the sermon” — “andavo lì, facevo la predica”.
In any case, they might as well have gone to lead the entire heretical service, with or without a “Eucharist”. That would have been merely a difference in degree, not in kind. By giving the sermon as part of a heretical worship service, addressing a heretical congregation as a substitute for the usual minister, the line into the forbidden territory of false worship and mortal sin has already been crossed. It’s good to know that Francis admits having done such a thing himself, not once but “a few times”.
The “Scottish Church” or “Church of Scotland”, by the way, is a Presbyterian sect. The Calvinist temple in Buenos Aires at which then-“Archbishop” Bergoglio engaged in his ecumenical stint is presumably the Iglesia Presbiteriana San Andrés del Centro.
And now we know why Francis had no problem allowing an Anglican service to be held at St. Peter’s Basilica — perhaps we should be grateful that he didn’t preach during it:
All this is consistent with the advice Francis gave to his followers two years ago that if there is no Catholic Mass available on a Sunday in your area, you can just go to the Anglican service instead. Yes, he really did say that:
Hey, Novus Ordo mess or Anglican worship service — what’s the difference anyway?! (Alright, he’s got a point there; but to the true Catholic Mass there is no comparison.)
All this is really just the logical consequence of the principles of Vatican II ecumenism. Keep in mind that, according to Novus Ordo church law promulgated by the “authority” of John Paul II in 1983, 1990, and 1993, non-Catholics are permitted to receive Novus Ordo sacraments under certain conditions outside the danger of death and without converting beforehand, and it is permissible for them to use Catholic churches for their own heretical worship if they have a genuine “need” to do so. Novus Ordo bishops are even permitted to allow the Protestants to use Catholic liturgical items if they cannot use their own. Remember?
Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community. They are therefore generally [!] reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, ministers or communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church do not have a place or the liturgical objects necessary for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies, the diocesan Bishop may allow them the use of a church or a Catholic building and also lend them what may be necessary for their services. Under similar circumstances, permission may be given to them for interment or for the celebration of services at Catholic cemeteries.
(Antipope John Paul II, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms of Ecumenism, n. 137)
Yes, all this junk has its roots in the Second Vatican Council, which declared:
…[W]orship in common (communicatio in sacris) is not to be considered as a means to be used indiscriminately for the restoration of Christian unity. There are two main principles governing the practice of such common worship: first, the bearing witness to the unity of the Church, and second, the sharing in the means of grace. Witness to the unity of the Church very generally forbids common worship to Christians, but the grace to be had from it sometimes commends this practice. The course to be adopted, with due regard to all the circumstances of time, place, and persons, is to be decided by local episcopal authority, unless otherwise provided for by the Bishops’ Conference according to its statutes, or by the Holy See.
(Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 8; underlining added.)
See! There is “grace to be had from” worshipping together with heretics, so why not preach at their prayer service? In fact, John Paul II’s ecumenical Directory specifically allows Novus Ordos “to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach” (n. 118). So there you go! Just wait till they discover that there is “grace to be had” also from shared “communion”, something Francis has already hinted at:
- Asked about communion for Lutherans, Francis says Yes, No, Maybe, and Don’t-Ask-Me!
- “Sharing the bread and the wine”: Francis commemorates Reformation with Lutherans in Sweden
Contrary to all this, in 1948 Pope Pius XII’s Holy Office issued the canonical monitum Cum Compertum, warning the faithful against “acts of mixed worship”, reminding them that “any communication in sacred affairs is totally forbidden according to the norm of Canons 1258 and 731, § 2.”
How manifestly today’s “Catholic” ecumenism differs from the true Catholic position maintained through the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, can be seen by reviewing these documents on the topic:
- Pope Pius IX, Holy Office Letter to English Bishops on Christian Unity (1864)
- Pope Pius IX, Holy Office Instruction to Puseyite Anglicans on True Religious Unity (1865)
- Pope Pius IX, Apostolic Letter Iam Vos Omnes (1868)
- Pope Leo XIII, Apostolic Letter to Archbishop Francis Satolli (1895)
- Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Satis Cognitum (1896)
- Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Mortalium Animos (1928)
- Pope Pius XII, Instruction Ecclesia Catholica on the Ecumenical Movement (1949)
But there we go again with those ashen pieces from the museum…
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