Bizarre Silence on Muslim Persecution from a Very Talkative Rome

Asia Bibi, our Catholic sister
condemned to death for "blasphemy" in Pakistan

Antonio Socci

Libero

November 9, 2014

Dear Father,

This letter is a long time in coming. I want to know what has happened to the Catholic understanding of death. On All Souls Day our priest wore white vestments and talked about how all the dead we pray for on this day are already in heaven. And he called us all a “resurrected people”. This is similar to what I see and hear at almost every Catholic funeral Mass I go to. I thought we were supposed to pray for the dead who are in Purgatory to speed them on their way to heaven. But if everyone goes to heaven as soon as he dies, what does all this mean?

Faithfully,

Beleaguered in Biloxi.

***

Dear Beleaguered in Biloxi,

The famous view of St.Peter's dome from the headquarters of the Order of Malta on the Aventine Hill

Video: Full Documentary "Watchmen of the Night" on the traditional Le Barroux Abbey (with English subtitles)

Sights and sounds of the Abbey of Saint Mary Magdalen of Le Barroux, near Avignon, in the Provence region of France:

De-Ratzingerization Purge at Divine Worship: Full Steam Ahead

We had warned that the "purge would hit new levels," since "they know they are in a race against time." From French blog Riposte Catholique:

Purge at the Congregation for Divine Worship

November 7, 2014

The interview of Cardinal Burke with Spanish Catholic weekly Vida Nueva is now very well-known due to the expression, "a rudderless ship", but taken out of context. Below, you will find the full translation of the interview (we thank Rorate's Spanish-language partners at Adelante la Fe - Rorate en Español for providing us the original text)

Interview

Raymond Leo Burke

"It seems to many that the Church's ship has lost its compass."

US Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke is considered one of the representatives of the Curial sector most resistant to change, as he demonstrates by deeming "critical" the current moment, in which for "many" the Church is sailing "as a ship without a rudder." Opposed to the theses of cardinal Walter Kasper on the admission of the remarried divorced to the sacraments - "marriage is indissoluble. If I marry someone, I cannot live with someone else" - he calls homosexuality "suffering" and he considers that there was an intent to conduct the Synod on the Family towards a position of laxity. He even denounced the "manipulation" that was tried with the information that was released from the synodal assembly, at the same time in which he laments the "confusion" and the "pastoral difficulties" caused by the debate on these hot-button issues. Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican Supreme Court, his transferal to the position of cardinal patron of the Order of Malta, an honorific job without any content, is considered certain.

What is the feeling that the Synod left you? Was there confrontation?

Cardinal Burke in Vienna (Photo: Christopher D. Owens)

As had been announced Cardinal Burke participated in a panel discussion at the presentation of the German translation of Remaining in the Truth of Christ.

Fritz von Uhde
Christ with a Farmer's Family (1887-8)
Musée d'Orsay

Professor Esolen, thank you for expressing what so many of us felt but somehow could not put into words. There is so much hurt, so much pain, so much loneliness and death... and Church hierarchs wedded to Mammon have forgotten these truly lost sheep.

Friends throughout the world: translate this, send it to all your priests and Bishops, to Archbishops and to Cardinals. This is the Manifesto that was missing. They have no wealthy German Bishops to speak up for them -- and you could well be one of these victims, let them know who the lost sheep really are, the sheep they have willfully overlooked as they dance around with the princes of the world in empty assemblies.

Who Will Rescue the Lost Sheep of the Lonely Revolution?

Anthony Esolen
Crisis Magazine
November 6, 2104
[Excerpts]

Forgive me, Lord, if I use your words for an admonitory parable. ... That is why you came among us, to call sinners back to the fold. Not to pet and stroke them for being sinners... . ... We do not have Pharisees who preen themselves for having followed the letter of the law and missed its soul. We have Pharisees who preen themselves for disobeying the law, even the most serious admonitions of the law, even your own clear words on marriage and divorce, while presuming to have discovered a soul-of-the-law whose existence has eluded two thousand years of martyrs, saints, popes, bishops, and theologians.

Members today

Burke in Vienna on Synod's midterm relatio: "saddest possible document"

Editorial - The False Prophetism of Worldly Clergy

THE FALSE PROPHETISM OF WORLDLY CLERGY

Editorial: Radicati nella fede, November 2014

Newsletter of the Catholic community of

Vocogno, Diocese of Novara, Italy

A war breaks out somewhere in the world and the clergy of all levels, voice their solidarity with the victims and the population hit by it. There is a flood or an earthquake, and nearness in prayer is communicated coupled with a lecture to the civil authorities who were incapable of warding off the disaster or scarce in their aid after the fact.

We are in an economic crisis and this worldly clergy attempts to teach the economist what they need to do by foisting their own “recipe” onto the State and the industrialists, reminding them of the rights of the workers.

By now we are used to these inevitable, humdrum ecclesiastical bulletins begotten by the likewise inevitable meetings of the ecclesiastical conferences.

Yet is all of this actually the task of the Catholic priesthood? And if it is in some measure, is that all there is to his mission?

From a November 5 post in the Argentinian blog Caminante-Wanderer, extremely well-informed in local (now universal) matters...

Three small anecdotes that serve as a thermometer of the state of certain sectors of the Church.

The three episodes took place in the past 24 hours, and all in the same place, the seminary of an extremely important Argentine Archdiocese.

Bp. Athanasius Schneider on the Synod, "manipulation", and the "neo-pagan" and heterodox midterm relatio
- Midterm relatio a stain on the honor of the Apostolic See

Polonia Christiana

November 4/5, 2014

The Church and the world do urgently need intrepid and candid witnesses of the whole truth of the commandment and of the will of God, of the whole truth of Christ’s words on marriage. Modern clerical Pharisees and Scribes, those bishops and cardinals who throw grains of incense to the neo-pagan idols of gender ideology and concubinage, will not convince anyone to either believe in Christ or to be ready to offer their lives for Christ - said + Athanasius Schneider Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana, Kazakhstan in interview with Izabella Parowicz.

Your Excellency, what is Your Excellency’s opinion about the Synod? What is its message to families?

During the Synod there had been moments of obvious manipulation on the part of some clerics who held key positions in the editorial and governing structure of the Synod. The interim report (Relatio post disceptationem) was clearly a prefabricated text with no reference to the actual statements of the Synod fathers. In the sections on homosexuality, sexuality and “divorced and remarried” with their admittance to the sacraments the text represents a radical neo-pagan ideology. This is the first time in Church history that such a heterodox text was actually published as a document of an official meeting of Catholic bishops under the guidance of a pope, even though the text only had a preliminary character.

For the Record: New Norms for the Resignation of Bishops - see Art. 5

from Sandro Magister's Italian-only blog Settimo Cielo

The Church has a social doctrine. But then there is the problem of putting it into practice. The Church makes an incontestable affirmation of the right to work, but then there are decisions imposed that take away jobs, even if these decisions are well motivated.

International Una Voce Federation: threatened SSPX excommunications may be illegal

The 2014 Synod and Vatican I, analysis by Roberto de Mattei
- Infallibility not Unlimited and Arbitrary Power
- All the baptized have right to defend their faith

The 2014 Synod and Vatican I

by Roberto de Mattei

Corrispondenza Romana

November 5, 2014

The historical phase that has opened after the Synod of 2014 demands, on the part of Catholics, not only the willingness to debate and fight, but also an attitude of careful reflection and study on the new problems which are up for discussion. The first of these problems is the relationship of the faithful with a [Church] authority which appears to be failing in its duty. Cardinal Burke in an interview to “Vida Nueva” on the 30th of October stated that: “there is a strong sense that the Church is like a ship without a rudder”. It’s a powerful image but it perfectly corresponds to the general picture.

All Saints Day Missa Solemnis photos

On the feast of All Saints, a Solemn High Mass was offered in Washington, D.C., by Father James Bradley, with several priests, deacons and seminarians assisting. The local choir "Chorus Sine Nomine" sang William Byrd's "Mass for Four Voices" and his polyphonic propers.

The Missa Solemnis on 1 November 2014 was at Holy Comforter church, where Father Bradley is in-residence. His sermon is posted on his blog.

Here are some of the photos taken at the Mass:

Do you remember Don Pietro Leone? This is the nom de plume of a priest in peaceful communion with his diocesan Ordinary who is dedicated exclusively to the celebration of the Traditional Mass, and years ago Rorate posted in installments his great study dedicated to the Roman Rite: "The Roman Rite: Old and New".

Well, now Don Pietro Leone has a new book out, on the most pressing issue of the day in these troublesome times in the Church: the Family and Christian Marriage. What is breaking apart the family? Why is the relevance of the Sacrament of Matrimony so misunderstood? The grave problem of divorce and its unfathomable consequences for the soul.

It's called The Family Under Attack, and you can find it on both sides of the Atlantic, on Amazon and on Amazon UK.

We will have excerpts of this work shortly here, but by buying the book you can help Father's intellectual apostolate and research.

Latin Mass Society of England and Wales: Canon Law Briefing on Status of Faithful who receive Sacraments from SSPX Priests

[See also: Una Voce International Federation condemns SSPX faithful "excommunications" as illegal.]

COMMENT: letters from the Bishop Semeraro of Albano, Italy, and then from Bishop Sarlinga of Zárate-Campana in Argentina, have declared that the lay faithful who receive the sacraments from priests and bishops of the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) are automatically excommunicated, and would need to go through a process authorised by the bishop to be readmitted to communion with the Church (i.e., not simply confession). The Latin Mass Society holds no brief to defend the position of the SSPX, which is canonically irregular, but feels it necessary to point out that these letters are not just ill-considered but have potentially very serious pastoral consequences. They imply that anyone who has ever been to Mass said by a priest of the SSPX is not welcome in the churches of these dioceses. This conflicts not only with the ‘opening of hearts’ requested by Pope Benedict XVI as a prelude to a healing of these divisions ‘in the heart of the Church’, but equally with the emphasis on mercy of Pope Francis.

CANON LAW BRIEFING:

Every once in a while we share photos of the actual priests saying Mass for the tens of thousands of enrolled Souls in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society.

Historic: First Pontifical High Mass at the Throne in England since the advent of the new rite

We receive the following news from our reader S.P.:

Scan of the last page of the letter

After the Pope's close friend and secretary of his Papal Council of Nine Cardinals did this days ago, now another Bishop threatens with "excommunication" the faithful who go to masses of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).

Where? In Argentina...

In all honesty, Bishop Sarlinga is considered a "conservative"*, closely linked to Opus Dei (though not a member), and for that reason was widely regarded in the Argentinian Church as someone deeply despised by the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, of whom he was considered an "ideological" adversary.

His letter is much longer, but with the same references to the Letters of Benedict XVI following the removal of excommunications, so we translate below just the relevant conclusion.

Óscar Domingo Sarlinga

by the Grace of God and of the Apostolic See

Bishop of Zárate-Campana

Diocesan Decree 27/14
...

By way of the present letter, I declare:

Holy Innocents in 1905

Thanks to a lot of prayer, Holy Innocents church in New York City will remain open. In fact, it will not even be merged with another parish or put to part-time use -- which means it has overcome absolutely amazing odds. Holy Innocents is nowhere on now-official lists affecting 112 parishes.

From the Archdiocese of New York's news release, which contains PDF documents of all of the mergers and partial closures:

Based on the input the cardinal received from the 368 parishes and 75 parish clusters (groups of about 4-7 neighboring parishes); a 40 person advisory committee comprised of clergy, religious men and women, and the faithful from across the archdiocese; the priest council; other close advisors and key staff, he has decided that:

1. All parishes will work together more collaboratively within their clusters in providing services and ministries

2. 48 parishes will merge with a nearby parish, resulting in 24 new parishes, with Masses and sacraments celebrated at both churches. There will be an evaluation every two years of these newly merged parishes, and every parish throughout the archdiocese. To accomplish this, the archdiocese has established a parish planning office, to be directed by Eileen Mulcahy.

3. 64 parishes will merge with a nearby parish, resulting in 31 new parishes, and while this new parish will have two churches, Masses and sacraments will only be celebrated on a regular basis at one church as of August 1, 2015.

The Newman Lecture in Melbourne:
- Found, not Manufactured: Newman, the Roman Rite, and Cranmer's Prayer Book

The Inaugural Blessed John Henry Newman Lecture was delivered by Dr Stephen McInerney (Senior Lecturer in Literature, Campion College).

***

“Marvellous Disclosures”:

John Henry Newman’s Anglican Reflections on the Liturgy(1)

Delivered at the Parish of Blessed John Henry Newman, Melbourne

12th October, 2014

[High Mass for All Souls at the Birmingham Oratory - Entrance]

Over fifty years ago, as he reflected on the legacy of John Henry Newman, Fr Frank O’Malley asked: “What was the spirit of this man who is with us a constant reference and a standard and a sign?” By way of an answer, he pointed to something that few Newman scholars before or since have sought to highlight:

the spirit of Newman moved within the spirit of the liturgy, the liturgy thought of in its most significant sense as the very rhythm of Christian existence, stirred and centred by the life of Christ. Newman absorbed the liturgical character of existence. He lived by the liturgy. (2)

Readers: please offer your Masses today for the Souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society.

Below, please find the eighty-fifth posting of enrolled Souls of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society on this All Souls Day.

We have added two more priests saying a Traditional Latin Mass for the tens of thousands of enrolled souls and are now at 42 priests in the Purgatorial Society.

Priests: The Souls still need more of you saying Mass for them! Please email me to offer your services. There's nothing special involved -- all you need to do is offer a weekly or monthly TLM with the intention: "For the Souls enrolled in the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society."

The overwhelming majority of our priests are diocesan with all the time crunches that parish life brings. So we are making a special plea today for you traditional order priests -- join the Society! Our traditional Mass only priests must lead by example. This is a great way to do just that. We are only asking for one TLM a week or a month. Nothing more.

How to enroll souls: please email me at athanasiuscatholic@yahoo.com and submit as follows: "Name, State, Country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Jones family, Ohio, USA". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well. And please follow this formatting strictly.

Please consider forwarding this Society to your family and friends, announcing from the pulpit during Holy Mass or listing in your church bulletin. We need to spread the word and relieve more suffering souls.

Please pray for the enrolled Souls and the 42 holy priests saying Traditional Masses for the Society:

Cardinal Burke in Vienna

This week Cardinal Burke will be visiting Vienna at the invitation of Una Voce Austria, an organization dedicated to the more ancient use of the Roman Rite and member of the International Federation (FIUV). In addition to to celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on several occasions, Cardinal Burke will be presenting the German translation of Remaining in the Truth of Christ.

The schedule for the Cardinal’s visit will be as follows:

Juan Valdés de Leal
Finis Gloriae Mundi (1672)
Hospital de la Caridad, Seville

Fr Anthony Mary of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer,
celebrating Mass on Stronsay Island in the Orkneys.

For the Record: Cardinal Pell Homily to Traditional Pilgrims (Full Text)
- Pastoral Practice can only be changed by "Consensus"| "One of the more unusual Popes"

For the record of current events, below is the full text of the Homily written by Cardinal Pell for the Mass for Juventutem (part of the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage), on October 24, 2014. As the Cardinal was prevented to attend due to mild bronchitis, the Mass was celebrated by his secretary, Fr. Withoos, who delivered the Cardinal's written words.

It has been published elsewhere, but due to the great relevance of the words contained therein, we post it here, with thanks to those who sent it to us.

***

Homily for the Mass of the 10th anniversary of Juventutem

during the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage

Church of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini

Rome, October 24, 2014

George Cardinal Pell

Cardinal Prefect

Secretariat for the Economy

We Catholics have strange beliefs; our planet earth is like a grain of sand in an unbelievably vast universe and we believe God’s Son came to live on this tiny speck to teach us and redeem us.

Fontgombault Sermon
- All Saints: “I have come to cast fire upon the earth”

Feast of All Saints

Sermon of the Right Reverend Dom Antoine Forgeot

Abbot Emeritus of Our Lady of Fontgombault

(Fontgombault, November 1, 2014)

Jobs at the Latin Mass Society, England

There aren't many paying jobs in the Traditional Catholic movement, so this may be of wider interest.

The Latin Mass Society is seeking a new General Manager. This is the most senior of our employees; the job is full-time and carries a salary of between £32k and £38k.

The job involves administration and managing other employees and volunteers in our office in London, managing projects and events, and developing LMS initiatives and policy.

The full details are here.

We are also seeking a part-time Press and Publicity Officer. This would be the equivalent of one day a week and could be done from home. We need someone dedicated to the website and relations with the press.

The full details are here.

The Latin Mass Society's London office, off Holborn.

Iustorum animæ: All Saints, Poland, 75 years ago

Orlande de Lassus
Iustorum animæ (cf. Missa Omnium Sanctorum, Offert.)

***

Great Flemish Idea: Put a Convicted Boy Molester Back in a Parish Filled with Young Men!

The news comes from much of the Dutch-speaking media, that calls him the "Pedopriester" (no translation necessary). Details are brought to you by Dutch blog In Caelo:

Bishop Jozef De Kesel [of Bruges, Flanders, Belgium] has assigned a priest, who has been found guilty of at least one case of molesting a minor in the past, to the parish federation in Middelkerke, halfway between Ostend and Nieuwpoort on the Belgian coast.

Father Tom Flamez appeared in court in 2008 and 2009, where he was found guilty of sexual molestation of teenage boy. In January of 2009, the court, for reasons of its own, decided to waive any punishment, as Bishop De Kesel explains in a statement released today:

For the Record: 1. SSPX and the Bishop of Albano, Italy
2. SSPX's Fellay: Interview on the Synod and Paul VI beatification

1. After Bp. Marcello Semeraro, of Albano, Italy, Secretary of the Papal Council of Reform (Council of Nine Cardinals) solemnly declared "out of communion with the Catholic Church" all faithful who go to Masses and receive sacraments from priests of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), also threatening their children with a "special penitential path", the local district of that society made the following statement, which we post here for the record of ongoing events:

ALBANO, ITALY – 10-31-2013 (Press release)

In a notification dated October 14 of this year, Bishop Marcello Semeraro, Ordinary of the Diocese of Albano Laziale (Italy), made particularly odious statements about the Society of St. Pius X, for the purpose of keeping the faithful away from Masses celebrated by our Society and from the religious instruction given to young people, declaring that the Society was not “an institution of the Catholic Church”.

Event Reminder: Don't Forget, Kasper's coming to Washington, and "all are invited"!

We cannot believe this wondrous event is almost here! How blessed Washington is to receive this theological giant of mercy, who truly is a light-bearer.

A reminder: Next Thursday, November 6, Walter Cardinal Kasper will receive a prestigious award from the Catholic University of America's theology school, delivering a lecture there on the "theological background of the ecclesiological and ecumenical vision of Pope Francis."

About the award:

For Excellence in Scholarship and Leadership in Religious Studies

Established in 1985 as the only academic award given by The Catholic University of America’s School of Theology and Religious Studies, the Quasten Medal is named after the Rev. Johannes Quasten, a professor of religious studies who taught at CUA for more than 30 years until his retirement in 1979.