RORATE CÆLI: February 2016

Pope Francis served the traditional Latin Mass!

A children's book titled "Dear Pope Francis" is set to be released March 1.

While there will undoubtedly be much to analyze once it's published, one excerpt, which was shared with us, stood out. And -- as is typical with this pontificate -- not in a good way.

Pope Francis, as could be assumed, served the traditional Latin Mass as a boy. If you wonder why the tradition of the Church never stuck with the young Jorge Bergoglio, maybe this disturbing explanation tells us why:

Winner selected! Purgatorial Society logo design contest announcement

Last month, we asked our readers to create a logo for the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. For a Society that has over 100,000 souls enrolled, with over 70 priests saying regular traditional Latin Masses for their repose, it's about it time it started to look official!

We were flooded with entries, and we are so grateful to all of you who submitted your designs. We have actually chosen two different designs, each by the same person, who isn't even a professional graphic designer. She does't even want credit! But please say a prayer for Melissa for her great work and dedication to the poor souls.

Here's the new logo, with the Latin text that reads: "And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."

Below, a bonus for us, is the new button on the side bar of our blog that readers can click to see all the Society posts over the years, also made by Melissa.

Thanks and God bless you, Melissa!

We also had some incredible other submissions. While we can't show them all, here's some of the best, below:

Traditional lay acolyte installed in New Jersey

Last April we shared a response from the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) on who may serve as a "straw" subdeacon at a traditional Latin Solemn High Mass. In addition to previous PCED clarifications that any seminarian permitted to wear the cassock and collar (the post-1970s equivalent of tonsure) may do so, the letter stated "the function of Subdeacon can be legitimately assumed by an acolyte suitably instituted by a Bishop, but with the particular appropriate ritual differences."

Therefore, a man who has been ordained a priest, or deacon or, in the case of traditional societies, a subdeacon, may serve as subdeacon. A seminarian permitted the Roman collar, or an instituted lay acolyte, may serve as a straw subdeacon. The latter category requires the straw subdeacon to not wear the maniple; not pour the water into the chalice at the offertory, letting the deacon do so; not touch the chalice infra actionem, nor cover it with the pall, nor uncover it; and after the communion the straw subdeacon does not purify the chalice, as the celebrant must purify it, after which the straw subdeacon covers it with the veil and burse and carries it to the side table.

As we originally stated, it is a rare thing for a bishop to institute a lay acolyte who is not a seminarian. The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, ran an article in its newspaper on the institution of a man from Mater Ecclesiae parish to the ministry of acolyte:

On Feb. 18, Bishop Dennis Sullivan called John Rotondi, a 36-year old married father of five, to the Ministry of the Acolyte at Mater Ecclesiae in Berlin, allowing him to assist the priest and deacon during the solemn high traditional Latin Mass.

The Real Umberto Eco: How a deeply Catholic young man became an Apostle of Anti-Catholicism

Umberto Eco: the sad parable of a nominalist

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

February 24, 2016

On February 23rd 2016, the writer Umberto Eco, who passed way on February 19th at the age of 84, had his “non-religious” funeral. Eco was one of the worst products of 20th century Italian/ Turin culture. His Turin origins need to be emphasized as Piedmont was a mine of great saints in the 19th century and of secularist, anti-Catholic intellectuals in the 20th century.

SSPX bishop: "The Pope leans towards a one-sided recognition of the Society."

For the record, from a conference given by the Argentine-Spanish Bishop of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Alfonso de Galarreta, in Versailles, on January 17, 2016:

Towards a unilateral recognition of the Society?

In the second part of his conference, and beyond the proposals of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Bishop de Galarreta publicly confided that he thinks the pope may soon confer a status on the Society of St. Pius X:

Marriage Italian Style: in the 1964 film, Domenico (Mastroianni) made an honest woman
out of his mistress Filumena (Loren). Soon, Italian men will be able to join their rentboys
in Civil Unions in City Halls all over Italy.

So, what happened today in the most important chapter of the Cirinnà Bill -- the Italian bill establishing civil unions for normal and "same-sex" couples in Italy?

"Dear Pope Francis" - A parish priest writes to the Pope following the confusion caused by his recent interview

Dear Pope Francis:

I write this letter to you as a priest to the Bishop of Rome and as a son to a father. I write with a heavy heart, and I know that heaviness of heart is shared by many of my Catholic brethren both clergy and laity.

Today, as the Italian Government is about to vote the proposed law on civil unions, here is a bittersweet commentary on the theme of the family and morality by the Bishop of Ascoli Piceno, Giovanni d’Ercole.

The Prayer of a Bishop

February 21, 2016

Today the Senate will bring to a close the vote on civil unions. We have fought the good fight. We have insisted opportunely and importunately. We have explained the reasons of truth… we took to the piazza to give witness to it. It seems however, that despite the signs given, the Pharaoh’s heart still remains hardened. It seems that God has decided to deliver Italy into his (the Pharaoh’s) hands so that he tastes in depth the bitterness of sin. So, now more than ever is the moment for prayer.

"DEAR BROTHER MASONS" - Full Article on Catholic-Masonic Dialogue by Cardinal Ravasi -- And, exclusive, an answer by Card. Ravasi

A few days ago, we published a few excerpts of the article published by Cardinal Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in the Italian paper Il Sole 24 Ore last Sunday, February 14, 2016, calling for dialogue with Freemasons. We now have the full text of the article -- followed by a response given by the Cardinal to a reader who asked him for a clarification.

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DEAR BROTHER MASONS

Over and above our different identities, there is no lack of common values: a sense of community, charitable works and the fight against materialism

by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi

I read some time ago in an American magazine that the international bibliography on Freemasonry exceeds more than a 100,000 articles. Certainly contributing to this interest is its aura of secrecy and mystery, more or less with good reason, its different “obediences” and Masonic “rites” shrouded in a sort of murkiness, not to mention its origins, which, according to the English historian Frances Yates, “are one of the most discussed and questionable problems in the entire field of historical research” (curiously the scholar’s study was dedicated to the Rosicrucian Enlightment, translated by Einaudi in 1976).

Rorate's Ken Wolfe pens Op-Ed on Antonin Scalia and the Latin Mass

Today, the Wall Street Journal ran an Op-Ed by Rorate's own Ken Wolfe, on the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It's a fitting tribute to a very down-to-earth man who loved the traditional Latin Mass, music and being with the people.

His funeral Mass tomorrow certainly won't reflect his passion for tradition. But, at least, the world will know how he preferred to properly worship Our Lord, thanks to Ken.

Scalia the Music Critic and Pew Policeman

Putting on a tie using his car’s mirror before attending Mass—the one in Latin, of course

Click here to read (paid subscription)

Prof. Radaelli: Was wall-builder Pope Leo IV a bad Christian?

We were asked by a colleague of Dr. Enrico Maria Radaelli, disciple and guardian of the legacy of the late Romano Amerio, to post the following brief reflection/question on the matter of border walls and Popes:

"Regarding Walls and Popes, it would indeed be most interesting to know what Pope Bergoglio thinks of the famous Leonine Walls, erected by his predecessor Pope St. Leo IV in 847 to defend Rome and the Pope’s residence from the Saracens, the Muslims of that time. Was Pope Leo, sainted and responsible of many a miracle during his lifetime, not 'a good Christian?'"

The Most Confusing Papal Interview Ever

Pope v. Trump.
Pope v. the Zika Virus
Pope v. the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
Pope v. Italian Bishops holding the line against Same-Sex "Unions"

How confusing was the interview granted by Pope Francis in the Airplane from Mexico to Rome this Thursday! So confusing the only way to present it is to place it for the record here. So much verbosity, so little clarity! Comments to follow -- eventually, when we fully understand what was left standing after the tornado passed.

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UPDATE:

Chris Ferrera: The Latest Papal Eruption on the Plane

Phil Lawler: The damage done—again—by the Pope's interview

Matthew Archbold: Hey, What Happened to "Who am I to Judge?"

Steve Skojec: Did the Pope Just Permit Contraceptive Use?

Mary Ann Kreitzer: Another Head Buster: Did the Pope Really Say Contraception was Legit ...
SSPX North America: The lesser of two evils: Pope Francis' interview

[Full text of the Interview:]

"The 'historical' meeting between Francis and Kirill"

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

February 17, 2016

Among the many successes the mass-media attributes to Pope Francis, is the “historical meeting” with the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, which took place on February 12th in Havana. An event, it is written, that saw the collapse of the wall which has divided the Church of Rome from the Eastern Church for a thousand years. The importance of the meeting, according to the words of Francis himself, was not in the document - of a merely “pastoral” nature - but in the convergence towards a common destination, not political nor moral, but religious. As for the traditional Magisterium of the Church, articulated in documents, Pope Francis seems to want it substituted by a Neo-Magisterium, transmitted through symbolic events. The message the Pope aims to give is that this is a turning-point in the history of the Church. Yet it is precisely the history of the Church we need to start with to understand the significance of the event. Historical inaccuracies are indeed many and need to be corrected, since it’s exactly upon false historians that doctrinal deviations are frequently built.

First of all, it is not true that a thousand years of history separate the Church of Rome from the Patriarchate of Moscow, seeing that this came about only in 1589. In the preceding five centuries, and even before that, Rome’s Eastern interlocutor was the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Strangeness never ends in Novus Ordo territory: one of the popularizers of the stovetop moka pot coffemaker, Renato Bialetti, died days ago in Italy (son of Alfonso Bialetti, for whose company the machine was first invented decades ago - the Bialetti family has not owned the Bialetti brand for many years).

Was he buried as countless generations of Catholic Italians? No, in a last bit of branding, he was cremated and his ashes were placed in a ... Bialetti Coffemaker during what can be called a Coffemaker Funeral Mass. There is a video to prove it... We are quite sure they all thought this was a beautiful and brilliant idea. And there was no ecclesiastical authority to stop it.

Dear Brother Masons
[Full article here]

Over and above our different identities, there is no lack of common values: a sense of community, charitable work and the fight against materialism.

You Suggest: help the Fresno Latin Mass Society

The Fresno Latin Mass Society asked that we bring this fundraising drive for their new traditional church to our readers' attention:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you may know, The Most Reverend Armando Ochoa has given the Fresno Traditional Latin Mass Society permission to raise funds to establish a Latin Mass parish in the Diocese of Fresno. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) will staff the proposed parish.

Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent

by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."(Mt. 4:1)

We never have to worry about what will be the gospel for the First Sunday of Lent. It is always the gospel of the temptation of Christ. No missal is needed, just attention and openness. The temptations are basic and deep: the temptation to fulfill personal desires, especially bodily desires: the temptation to power; the temptation to tempt God, to play chicken with God, so to speak. We all know these temptations. To fulfill human desire, be it hunger or sexual fulfillment; to want to be important in the eyes of the world and to be a player wherever we are that will determine the outcome; and to challenge God to show that he is God. The basics.The basic temptations we all know.

Over the past decade, this contributor has had the great honor of speaking with Justice Antonin Scalia on a number of occasions, each one memorable. He always had the time for my family and me and always offered his time, kindness, humor and wisdom. His words have lasted with us for years and will never fade.

He loved his country, his family and the traditional Latin Mass. And we loved him.

Please take a moment and pray for the repose of his soul. Say a rosary for him. Offer your Sunday Mass intention for him. And, please dear Fathers of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society, say a Mass for him as well.

Our Blessed Mother and St. Thomas More, intercede for him.

Requiescat in Pace ...

Pope Francis needed the Moscow Patriarch to force him to say some obvious things

We make ours the words of our friends of the Messa in Latino blog:

"An Orthodox Patriarch was needed to make the Church speak up on the family, Christian roots, abortion, and the persecution of Christians..., to make us Catholics say that leaves are green or that two plus two makes four."

As a blog that has always made every effort to keep unity of all Christians regarding the Genocide taking place in Syria and Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria and elsewhere, we know that this is the actual reason for the meeting, and cannot but hope that it bears some fruit for those Catholics and Orthodox actually suffering there in Syria, Iraq and in so many refugee situations in the region and elsewhere. For the record of historical events, the complete statement.

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Joint Declaration

of Pope Francis

and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:13).

Cardinal Burke's visit to Krakow, Poland - Pontifical Mass (with video)

Cardinal Burke was recently in Krakow, Poland to release his book Divine Love Made Flesh: The Holy Eucharist as the Sacrament of Charity. Cardinal Dziwisz warmly welcomed him, and he celebrated a Pontifical Mass in the city. (Video below)

The Antichrist - and the katechon
- 1 (Vittorio Messori)

The Antichrist

Vittorio Messori

What will the Antichrist be like? We know that in Paul, in John’s letters and in the Apocalypse, there are scattered throughout, various forewarnings of a reality Christian Tradition has identified as (and I’ll cite a theology book) “the Prince of evil who will come and reign over the world at the end of times, before the Son of Man’s definitive return establishes the New Heavens and New Earth.”

For the record: On Curial reform and Church decentralization
Secretariat of State and Congregation for Divine Worship face reform

NB: "G-9" and "C-9" are both used to refer to the Council of Cardinals.

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Amidst everything that has been happening in the Church and the outside world, the latest meeting of the Council of Cardinals from February 8 to 9 went almost unnoticed. However this may yet prove to be one of the most important of the Council's meetings so far.

The Vatican Bollettino for February 9 carried a brief report by Fr. Lombardi on this meeting, while on the same day News.Va carried a fuller report (G-9 meeting: Decentralization and the new dicasteries). The short meeting had a full agenda. As previously announced it involved discussions about decentralizing the Church.

Fontgombault Sermon for Ash Wednesday: Time for the Works of Mercy!

ASH WEDNESDAY

Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Jean Pateau

Abbot of Our Lady of Fontgombault

(Fontgombault, February 10, 2016)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My dearly beloved Sons:

Exclusive Op-Ed: Pio Pace: "Conclave Preparations: Watch Out - Great Editorial Manoeuvres Signal Cardinal Tagle"

We are very honored to post this new very important warning piece, by a very wise, knowledgeable, and highly influential cleric, writing under the pen name of don Pio Pace.

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Watch Out - Great Editorial Manoeuvres Signal Cardinal Tagle

by Father Pio Pace

At the time of the 2013 conclave, the Ratzingerians did not see coming the very efficacious shadow campaign led by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

The Pope's Traditional Masterstroke to bring Crowds to the Jubilee

So...the 2016 Mercy Jubilee was not the popular success that had been foreseen. What was the solution?

New traditional Catholic college in three years

We we alerted to a new traditional Catholic college starting in 2019 (there is already an online high school education being offered). The following was written for us by Rev. Mr. Edward Schaefer:

www.collegiumsanctorumangelorum.org

By Deacon Edward Schaefer:

Newman wrote about "the idea of a university" at a time when the universities of Europe had been largely secularized. This is certainly the case in America today. American Catholic colleges and universities today are largely built on unsustainable economic models; they are too costly for most to attend without either exorbitant loans or significant strains on family resources; and, sadly, too many of them have sacrificed their Catholic missions and identities in efforts to sustain enrollments.

Collegium sanctorum angelorum has been born to change all of this. The Collegium is a residential, four-year college providing a liberal arts education (A.A. and B.A.) that is faithful to the intellectual, moral, spiritual, and liturgical traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and a formation in Catholic living – ore et labore, both at affordable rates (under $13,500) for tuition, room and board. It is a traditional college serving traditional Catholics. (It is the only such college offering a four-year degree since the demise of Fisher More College.)

On Family Day, the God of Surprises surprised Pope Bergoglio and Prime-Minister Renzi (by Antonio Socci)

RENZI AND POPE BERGOGLIO (along with others) TAKEN ABACK BY THE PEOPLE OF FAMILY DAY

“The Surprises From The Holy Spirit”

Antonio Socci

“Libero”

January 31, 2016

There are those who are green with envy at yesterday’s immense and momentous Family Day, which, for the first time in Italian history filled up Rome’s Circo Massimo with no union, political or industrial organizational backing and no paid travel expenses. These were people who went to the Circo Massimo at their own expense, with enormous sacrifices, for an ideal, for their children, faced with a political class that has thrown ideals under the bus, seeing as it is only motivated by power. A political class that is quite incapable of representing these people and in reality, was never given any power by the electorate.

There are “ envious individuals” in the “Palaces of Power” (political, ideological and journalistic), but even in the palaces of ecclesiastical power, who did all they possibly could to defuse Family Day.

Many thanks to Gallia Watch for translating this important interview with Mgr. Jean-Clément Jeanbart, the Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo: The last Christians in Aleppo. We are reposting the full text below, with our emphases.

(The original French text is on Boulevard Voltaire.)

After describing the dramatic situation the Aleppines are living through, the bishop addressed the journalists who had come to hear him.

The Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius in Sergiyev Posad -- Russia's largest and most venerated monastery for men.

Today the Vatican and the Patriarchate of Moscow jointly announced that Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow will meet in Cuba on the 12th of February, while both are enroute to separate trips to Latin America. Both the Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate published the following press release:

The Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow are pleased to announce that, by the grace of God, His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet on February 12 next. Their meeting will take place in Cuba, where the Pope will make a stop on his way to Mexico, and where the Patriarch will be on an official visit. It will include a personal conversation at Havana’s José Martí International Airport, and will conclude with the signing of a joint declaration.

Op-Ed: "The Conversation that must be had: a genuine Theological debate about the Church and the World"

by Fr. Richard G. Cipolla

[Rorate note: This is intended to be the beginning of a conversation among Rorate's contributors about the Reform of the Reform and its future..]

What is so sorely needed in the Church today is genuine theological debate about important issues both within the Church and also within the world. And this debate is sorely needed within the Traditional movement within the Church. What is at stake is the very concept and understanding of the Tradition of the Church that encompasses both Scripture and the teaching of the Church to the present time. For the Catholic, Scripture cannot be divorced from the Tradition, which must include the teaching of the Church and its binding nature. You notice I did not invoke the term “Magisterium” with respect to the teaching office of the Church. The Magisterium, as understood today, did not, at least in an explicitly defined sense, exist before Vatican I. I would submit that the concept of the Magisterium as consisting of the Pope united with the bishops and the levels of Extraordinary and Ordinary teaching is a rather modern concept. This is not to say that this concept is in error or that it is not useful. But this understanding of the teaching role and office of the Church defined in this narrow and legalistic way impoverishes the meaning of the Ecclesia Docens by overlooking the role of the Liturgy and of the piety of the people in the teaching of the Church as embodied in the Tradition. The omission of the role of the Liturgy and the piety of the people in the concept of the Magisterium is one of the chief reasons why we find ourselves in the parlous situation of the Church today.

On Family Day, the Catholic Majority spoke in Italy - despite Pope's silence (by Roberto de Mattei)

THE ITALY OF FAMILY DAY

Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

February 3rd 2016

The Family Day of January 30th brought to light the existence of another Italy, quite different from the relativist and “pornomania” one proposed to us by the media as the only real one.

The Italy of Family Day is that portion of the population, much larger than we can perhaps imagine, that has remained faithful, or has won back in recent years, what Benedict XVI defined as “the non-negotiable values”: life, the family, the education of children, with the conviction that only on these pillars can a well-ordered society be founded.

Good News, Bad News:
1. Bishop of Oruro formalizes ban on communion in the hand
2. Sanctuary of Fatima gets ugly "modern" altar

1. We reported in August last year about the intention of the Polish Verbite Bishop of the Diocese of Oruro, Bolivia to forbid communion in the hand in his Diocese. Bishop Krzysztof Białasik has now issued a decree (dated January 6, 2016) formalizing the ban. (Source).

H/t to our friends in Adelante la Fe / Rorate Caeli en Espanol.

2. On Candlemas (February 2), 2016, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima was reopened after having been closed for renovations for more than a year. Among the renovations was the installation of a brand-new altar designed by sculptor Bruno Marques, which was consecrated on that day by the Bishop of Fatima, Msgr. António Marto. The following photos are from the official, Portuguese-language Facebook page of the Sanctuary of Fatima:

Ironically, Bishop Marto dedicated part of his Candlemas homily to lamenting the loss of the "transcendent dimension" in Europe. We would have loved to tell him that a good example of that loss was standing right in front of him.

Prior to the renovations, the Basilica's sanctuary had looked like this:

At least, the tabernacle seems to have been refurbished and the carpeting removed.

(Photo source)

Unfortunately, the installation of ultra "modern" altars in traditionally-designed sanctuaries, implanting ugliness and disharmony in the very heart of beautiful and venerable churches, remains a trend in parts of Europe. We have a post from November 2013 recording more than 40 such cases from 2010 to 2013: Basket case: The craze for strange new altars and "youth churches". We are well aware of many more cases from 2014 and 2015.

Reminder: Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society and logo design contest

This is our monthly reminder to please enroll Souls of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society. And, please remember our new policy change, that the names of Souls you enroll will no longer be made public. We now stand at 70 priests saying weekly or monthly traditional Latin Masses for the souls!

REMINDER: The deadline for graphic designs to create a logo/coat of arms for the Society is February 15. Read more here.

Candlemas in Art : A pictorial Presentation - by Maureen Mullarkey

by Rorate Contributor

Maureen Mullarkey

In the Latin Church, Christmastide reaches its canonical end today, on Candlemas. The name comes to us from the ancient custom of blessing candles in church this day for distribution to the congregation. Celebrated in the early Church simply as the Feast of the Fortieth Day, it is rich in liturgical significance and resonant with history. Candlemas is a double feast that binds Christian faith to its Judaic roots in the very act of proclaiming Jesus as a light for the Gentiles and, in the jubilant words of the Canticle of Simeon, “the glory of Thy people Israel.”

Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Luttrell Psalter (14th C.)

We know the story. In obedience to Jewish law, Mary—young Miriam—takes her weeks-old son to temple to undergo ritual purification on the day required of mothers of sons. The Book of Leviticus is firm: “She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.”

EXCLUSIVE: BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER INTERVIEW WITH RORATE CAELI

SSPX; Women and foot washing; consecrating Russia; anti-pastoral bishops and much more

Last week, Rorate Caeli interviewed His Excellency Bishop Athanasius Schneider, one of the most visible prelates working on the restoration of the traditional Latin Mass and faith, on numerous topics.

In this wide-ranging interview, His Excellency thoughtfully expounded on issues critical to the Church in this great time of crisis. Read the entire interview so you don't miss His Excellency's thoughts on the current status of the SSPX, women's participation in the Mass and the washing of women's feet, whether Russia was ever truly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Summorum Pontificum and anti-pastoral bishops and much, much more.

All may reprint/repost this interview -- but you must credit Rorate Caeli.

Click here to follow @RorateCaeli on Twitter

*NB: words in bold by Rorate for emphasis:

POST-SYNOD CHURCH & UNBELIEVERS IN THE HIERARCHY

Rorate Caeli: In the recent Synod, we will not know the legal impact it will have on the Church for some time, as it’s up to Pope Francis to move next. Regardless of the eventual outcome, for all intent and purposes, is there already a schism in the Church? And, if so, what does it mean practically speaking? How will it manifest itself for typical Catholics in the pews?

H.E. Schneider: Schism means according to the definition of the Code of Canon Law, can. 751: The refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with those members of the Church who are submitted to the Supreme Pontiff. One has to distinguish the defect in belief or heresy from schism. The defect in belief or heresy is indeed a greater sin than schism, as Saint Thomas Aquinas said: “Unbelief is a sin committed against God Himself, according as He is Himself the First Truth, on which faith is founded; whereas schism is opposed to ecclesiastical unity, which is a lesser good than God Himself. Wherefore the sin of unbelief is generically more grievous than the sin of schism” (II-II, q. 39, a. 2 c).

The very crisis of the Church in our days consists in the ever growing phenomenon that those who don’t fully believe and profess the integrity of the Catholic faith frequently occupy strategic positions in the life of the Church, such as professors of theology, educators in seminaries, religious superiors, parish priests and even bishops and cardinals. And these people with their defective faith profess themselves as being submitted to the Pope.

The height of confusion and absurdity manifests itself when such semi-heretical clerics accuse those who defend the purity and integrity of the Catholic faith as being against the Pope – as being according to their opinion in some way schismatics. For simple Catholics in the pews, such a situation of confusion is a real challenge of their faith, in the indestructibility of the Church. They have to keep strong the integrity of their faith according to the immutable Catholic truths, which were handed over by our fore-fathers, and which we find in in the Traditional catechisms and in the works of the Fathers and of the Doctors of the Church.

Interview with the only Bishop to take part at Rome's "Family Day" - "It's easy for the other bishops not to be here"

Bishop on the battlefield says: too easy not to expose oneself

Serena Sartini

Il Giornale

January 31st 2016

The Archbishop of Campobasso scolds his absent colleagues and appeals to Mattarella: “If the Cirinnà Bill passes, don’t sign it.”

He is one of the few bishops present at Family Day, perhaps the only one. Without fear of exposing himself or of being criticized by the other bishops, alongside the families, saying no to the Cirinnà Bill on civil unions and with an appeal to the President of the Republic, [he says]: “I hope that the Bill will be examined by the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella and that he doesn’t sign the decree: it is in conflict with article 29 of the Constitution which states that the family is based on matrimony.”

The Bill should be completely rewritten – or better still, withdrawn

Monsignor Giancarlo Maria Bregantini, Bishop of Campobasso-Bojano, set out at 5 o’clock yesterday morning with a group of faithful from his diocese to be part of a demonstration at Circo Massimo. As a shepherd does, not abandoning his sheep.

Your Excellency, why did you want to be part of Family Day?

This is a civic and secular battle, a battle of basic dignity for three reasons: first of all, because the family is of perennial significance; second, because the snares regarding certain secular positions of some days ago are in the increase; and third, if we give in on the family, we are giving in also on the social level.”